Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 7

FLORTOATODAY SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2005 7A POPE JOHN PAUL II 1920-2005 TTft tiff' Paul9 Brevard reacts Residents reflect on Pope John Paul ll's life and legacy. a modern-day Ami 5 If I I vri vw i 7 ron Followers hail tireless pope's faith, courage BY JOHN A TORRES FLORIDA TODAY In more than a quarter-century as head of the Roman Catholic church, the outspoken and controversial Pope John Paul battled communism and abortion with equal fervor, and made his presence felt throughout the world. "I think his tireless energy in preaching the gospel is like a modern-day St. Paul," said the Rev. EamonTobin of Ascension Catholic Church in Melbourne.

"His traveling, his teaching, his part in helping end communism, his defense of human life, his care for the poor, his witness to suffering he has been one of the greatest popes in history." Born Karol Josef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland, in 1920, he studied literature, philosophy and religion. Aprolific writer, he published several documents and books. His followers say John Paul II i I FLORIDA TODAY tile Papal praise. The Rev. Eamon Tobin of Ascension Catholic Church in Melbourne considers Pope John Paul II "one of the greatest popes in history." Followers says John Paul II will be remembered as a defender of the poor and of the faith.

will be remembered as a defender of the poor and of his faith, who became the most-traveled pope in history and the first ever to visit Cuba as he took his message around the globe. This pope has been seen by more people in the world than anyone in history," said the Rev. Gregory Parkes, chancellor of the Orlando Diocese. "The 26 years has given him an opportu- nity to present the gospel to the world." The pope's visibility made BREVARD RESIDENTS' ENCOUNTERS "He helped in the downfall of communism. Being the most traveled pope, he embodied the ecumenical spirit that the Church wants its people to have.

And he made himself available to more people than any other pope in history." Dan Cacchlo, Suntree "He is probably one of the great men of the 20th century You look at him and you know he is such a spiritual person." Gloria Walker, Cocoa Beach "The pope is a world leader who is not particular to one country, but a religious leader for the world the one individual who can unify the world. Don Walker, Cocoa Beach "I would remember him as pure love. To me, he transcends any particular religion. He's the way we should all be." Maureen Sullivan, Suntree "The big thing with the pope is he's very international, political. He's one of the people who helped bring down the Berlin Wall.

He's very into getting young people back into the church. He influenced me to the point he spoke 13 languages. That's phenomenal to be able to communicate with the world." Sean Cannie, Suntree "I was lucky to meet him. We were in Rome in 2000 and went to New Year's i v- Jn tve Tor my yr (wedding) anni versary. It was such a great experience, very soulful.

It was our 20th anniversary and we were blessed by the pope. We felt very close to him." Maria Ginorio, Suntree 3 "He did so much. What he really did is leave an impression on young Catholics- bringing them together with the 1 i Church. He's pulled through a lot. He's taught us that there's hope and faith in God." Denise Mollo, Viera "He always spoke to his people.

Even when he was sick, when he was dying, he still went out there giving us IV A- l'lllffflUIIJPM i 4 At It 1 him a true "vicar of Christ," said the Rev. David Vivero of St. Mary's in Rockledge. "He made himself available to the poorest of the poor in this world." Timmian Massie, who teaches a course called "The Church in Rome" at Marist Col- WITH POPE overawed if -I CUV 1 i 1 i lege in New York and who had one-on-one meetings with the pope at least a half-dozen times, said the next pope will face the challenge of being compared to John Paul II. "This was one of the most influential popes in the history of the church," he said.

"In time, I believe he will be given more credit for his role in things like the fall of communism and giving the church a more worldly face." In 1994, the Pope alienated some in the United States by saying the West was fostering a "culture of death" due to practices of abortion and contraception. "He was looked at as a man of prayer who was not afraid to speak his mind," Parkes said. The next pope faces several real dilemmas, Massie said, including a growing divide between the church in the Americas and Europe, an aging and dwindling clergy, and a continuing sexual abuse scandal in the United States. "We believe the Holy Spirit will help us choose the right Pope for our times," Parkes said.a Contact Torres at 242-3649 or Jtorresflatoday.net by him' Photos by Tim Shortt, FLORIDA TODAY Papal memento. A year after meeting Pope John Paul II at a reception in Reiti, Italy, in 1982, Elizabeth Ruip, shown above with her husband, Mike, received this commemorative medal, left, with an image of the pontiff.

The Palm Bay couple attended Mass with the pope years earlier in Rome. St-'" just seem to fly off of him. It was a huge surprise. You don't see a pope come out of the sky every day." MacLeod is not Catholic he's Anglican he understands the importance of the pontiff. "He's going to be one of the great men of this century," MacLeod said.a Eleska Aubespln, FLORIDA TODAY Fellsmere remembers.

Ernesto Veleces, left, says the pope represents "God on Earth," while Operation Hope director Jesse Zermeno says Mexican people i are praying for his recovery. iiiin Vmi I IIIIHIIIIWI HI I II All Xn Rik Jesse, FLORIDA TODAY 'A holy Virginia Gilluly saw the pope give Mass at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit. was a hush over the whole audience," she said. "It was a holy experience." Cocoa Beach woman saw pope five times 1 was so Palm Bay duo attended event with pontiff Shaking the hand of pope John Paul II and attending masses where he gave communion are blessed memories to Elizabeth Ruip of Palm Bay. Ruip, 79, and her husband, Mike, 86, both went to St.

Peter's Basilica in Rome where the Pope celebrated Mass. Years later, around Christmas 1982, Elizabeth Ruip was visiting her ancestral home of Rieti, Italy. That year was the first time in 400 years that a pope visited the small town. She received an invitation to a reception for the Pope that afternoon in the town's community center. "I stood right by the barricade where the Pope came down the aisle to the reception," she said.

"I got to shake his hand. His eyes were so blue. He had the prettiest blue eyes. I was so affected. I could hardly say anything.

I knew he spoke English and un- derstood, but I was so overawed by him." The next year, Ruip received a commemorative metal with a picture of the Pope on it. Pam Harbaugh, FLORIDA TODAY By chance, man met John Paul II in Canada Twenty-three years ago, Malcolm MacLeod saw Pope John Paul II emerge from the heavens. Well, not exactly from the heavens. The pope actually arrived in the small town of Midland, Canada, by way of a military helicopter. The helicopter landed in a field next to a horse stable where, just by chance, MacLeod and his son, David, were visiting.

"The helicopter came into view and landed in a field and the pope stepped out," said MacLeod, 76, of Cocoa Beach. "We went over and since I had my son, the pope beckoned us ade ago. She was pleased that Pope John Paul kissed Mexican soil when his airplane landed. "We sang a song for him," she said, repeating the verses in Spanish. "It was very emotional." Jesse Zermeno, who runs Operation Hope, a Fellsmere-based organization to help the local needy, remembers the pope visiting Mexico City about three years ago.

At the time, the Catholic church was considering sainthood for Our Lady of 1 1 ing made. The pope showed up at the film's location, a huge arena. "That was an experience because thousands of people were chanting his name in Indonesian," she said. "And most of the people there are Muslim." Also in Indonesia, the couple attended a private Mass at which the pope spoke. The final chance meeting happened in Singapore, also the site for the filming of an IMAX production.

Once again, the pope just happened to show up amid the crowd. "The experiences were awesome," said Gilluly, who is Catholic. "I guess it was because I had the opportunity to see him in such far away places." Gilluly never touched the pope or spoke to him directly. "It's like seeing movie stars on the screen and shaking their hands," she said. "But with the pope, just being in his presence was more than enough." Eleska Aubespln, FLORIDA TODAY Each community brought musical instruments, flowers and items to give to the pope, Veleces said, and also performed native dances.

"There were thousands and thousands of people there. But I saw him wave from 10 yards away," he said, adding that, to him, the pope represents "God on Earth." Norma Gonzalez, 45, of Fellsmere, saw the pope when he visited Monterrey, Mexico, a dec hope that there is a God. The pope is the pope. We just felt we needed to come here and show respect. I'm glad we were here (St.

Mary's Church in Rock-ledge) when he died." Carol Ryan, of Cocoa The 1980s were good years for Virginia Gilluly. The Cocoa Beach resident saw Pope John Paul II five times during that decade. Two times were in the United States; three encounters were abroad. Exactly what year each encounter took place is hazy, but Gilluly, 68, certainly can recall places. Like the time Gilluly and a friend watched the pope's car creep past the Washington monument in Washington, D.C And the time Gilluly visited the Pontiac Silverdome, where the pope celebrated Mass then "walked past and smiled." News articles note 1987 as the date of the event, which drew a record crowd of 93,682.

"When he was in Detroit, there was a hush over the whole audience," she said. "It was a holy experience." Indonesia was the location for two chance meetings. Gilluly was there because her husband, Pat, was the writing director for an IMAX film be Emily Barnes, FLORIDA TODAY From the heavens. Malcolm MacLeod watched the pope's helicopter land on a farm in Midland, Canada, in 1982. He met the pontiff and said, "He was a very magnetic man." 3 "It's just a sad day a man who's done so much for everyone, not just Catholics.

The world is losing a man of peace." Courtney Mace, Rockledge Fellsmere residents have fond memories of seeing 'El Papa' "I feel like he was two different people during his reign as pope. At the beginning, he was young and dynamic. But as he grew older, he became more conservative. I truly hope the next pope will be less conservative." Leslie Curry, Indlalantlc "The next pope will have some big shoes to fill. It's not just Catholics mourning him today." Cathy Manese, Indian Harbour Beach over," he said.

"He shook my hand and patted the kid on the head and then he hopped into the pope mobile." Midland is the location of a shrine built to honor eight missionaries and the pope had come to view the sight. David was only about 5 years old at the time. "He was a very magnetic man," MacLeod said. "Sparks "My mother in her bedroom had a picture of the pope," Zermeno said. He was raised Catholic, but said he is now "a Christian" and his organization is non-denominational.

"But the Mexican people respect the pope because he brings hope and peace to the people. So we're praying that he heals because so many people love him. It's sad to let him go." Linda Jump, FLORIDA TODAY IOIIJPWWIJ.IIJWU Ernesto Veleces, 32, a land-scaper in Fellsmere, rode on a bus for two hours to get to Guerrero, Mexico, from his mountain village 13 years ago so he could wave to "El Papa," Pope John PaulH. "He spoke about all the nations and to help each other and love each other," Veleces said in Spanish. He said he didn't understand the language that the Pope spoke, but "he was sweet and tender." "He's been an incredible leader.

One of the most important people in recent history." Dick Cross, Melbourne.