Local catholics mourn passing of Pope John Paul II

Hungry Horse News

The torrential rain pounded the University of New Orleans stadium. It soaked the 70,000 people waiting for Pope John Paul II.

Bob Pearce Sr., a deacon at St. Richard's Catholic Church, was in that wet crowd in 1987.

"An amazing thing happened," Pearce said.

As the pope arrived by helicopter to celebrate mass, the sky cleared and the rain stopped. There was no rain for the whole mass.

"Unbelievable," Pearce said.

The pope's death has left many local Roman Catholics reflecting on an incredible life.

Floyd McCubbins, a Catholic from Columbia Falls, said the pope will be remembered "as a saint" and "for the way he brought the world together."

"He was very charismatic," McCubbins said. "He could speak almost everybody's language."

McCubbins said the pope was probably the most well traveled in history. The pope visited more than a 100 different countries during his 26-year papacy, and a lot of Catholics respected that, especially the youth, he said.

"He brought a lot of love to the world," said the Rev. Joe Pat Moran, St. Richard's pastor. "The way he reached out to people was outstanding."

Along with his worldwide outreach, the pope will also be remembered by many for his conservative stance regarding moral and church issues.

The pope never buckled from that stance.

"It made him a very good leader," Moran said. "He had a stance and he stayed by it. He was the spiritual leader. In that position you have to stand by your guns."

Pearce said the pope, who was Polish, will also be known for how he helped destabilize communism.

The pope's funeral is Friday (April 8). It will be a day of mixed emotions.

"We're sad, but we're glad because he is with God right now," Pearce said. "He's looking down on us."

"Thankfully, we had him for 26 years," Moran said. "It's a sorrow but it's also the joy of the resurrection."