I heard once that everyone has "their" pope. I had one pope for the first 24 years of my life, Saint John Paul II. I think he will always be "my" pope. He's the one I loved as a grandfather, the one I saw as an adolescent, the one who's visit transformed my city. I traveled to Paris and Rome to see him in high school, and to Toronto to see him in college. So much of who I was and how I developed as a Catholic, I attribute to him.
After watching the address at the White House, Liam and I went out to Cherry Creek State Park and visited the mass site where JPII said mass in 1993. Ever since then, this has been a favorite place of mine to go and sit and think and pray. This time, we brought a rosary that we had made with the flowers from Perpetua's funeral. I certainly had now idea at the time why God was giving me so much faith and what I would need it for, but I am so, so thankful he did. This year has been so incredibly hard in so many ways, and if we didn't have faith, I don't think William and I could have made it through.
It's been really interesting to watch his speeches and the public's reaction to them. I don't entirely understand the media's obsession with him, but I do believe he is the right Pope for our time. One of the most interesting and exciting things to me about being Catholic is how the Holy Spirit brings forth the right man for what the world needs at the time. 30 years ago, the world needed an end to communism, and JPII was brought forward for that. Right now, the world is desperately hurt, divided, and troubled. Pope Francis provides hope for so many people in that he presents the same Catholic truths in a way that the world seems to think is fresh, and becomes excited about.
I know that JPII's visit did amazing things for the New Evangilization and for Denver. I am excited for Philadelphia to see what fruits of the spirit come alive there.
