Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)

Time: 12:59am
Mood: Sad
Song of the moment: ...

Pope John Paul II died this Saturday and I can't even begin to express the sadness I feel. I knew.. we all knew this was going to happen but you know, it doesn't hit you until it actually happens. I remember sitting in my family room, on a Saturday afternoon, watching TV with Jimmy when I turned to CNN and saw the message flashing on the TV screen: Pope John Paul II has died. I immediately felt sad, it was almost a concept too hard to grasp. But it wasn't until a news correspondent actually said the words "Pope John Paul II is dead" did the tears start to fall.

Back in 1984, when the pope visited Canada, I had the wonderful experience of being in his presence. I don't quite remember where I was (it was Downsview Park, the exact location of the World Youth Day 2 years earlier), but I remember a crowd of people. And then I saw him. He was in the pope-mobile, but that 5 seconds I got to see the pope, in the flesh, was an experience that I have treasured.

He's the only pope I've ever known, and this is the case for most of us. We say the word pope, we immediately think of him and quite possibly only him.

His death was like loosing a good friend, someone to look up to and to mirror. He was almost a larger than life character for me. I honestly felt he would live forever, so invincible, like superman. Something like this really kicks the reality in.. he was just a man. I will miss him dearly. I know he's up in heaven smiling down on all of us. We have truely lost a remarkable man that has taught us the compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ. To me, this man is irreplacable.