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 A placard showing the late Pope John Paul II holding a baby is displayed on a lamp post in Rome for the beatification.
April 29th, 2011
03:43 PM ET
Did you encounter Pope John Paul II?Pope John Paul II is said to have been seen in person by more people than any other figure on Earth. He was pope from his election in 1978 to his death in 2005 and traveled to all corners of the globe to meet people where they lived. John Paul II will be beatified in Rome on Sunday, the last step before sainthood. Did you ever see John Paul II in Rome or did he come to your hometown? What was it like to meet the pope? Share your comments with us below. And you can also share photos and videos through CNN's iReport. Your stories and images could be included in the beatification coverage on CNN’s Belief Blog. |
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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I believe strongly that no one has had a greater impact on this world in my lifetime, arguably in 1000 years. I went to a service by Pope John Paul II in 1998, I was awed by the event, his humility his humanity. When his car passed by me I could have reach out and touched him, but I held back, I could not fathom that I would so intrude on his holiness. He blessed a baby whose mother proffered up the child to the Pope beside me and I can honestly say I have never in my life felt so close to god. He radiated peace and love, and bore the burden of his task us all. Thank you John Paul the Great
I saw the Pope three times. Once as a little girl in Puerto Rico, once again as a teenager in Miami and then again as an adult in the Vatican on my way to Medjugorje. He is my Pope.
i saw pope john paul 2 in fulda germany in 1982 when i was stationed in fulda in the army i did not know who he was was but when the popemobile past me within 5 feet i cannot ever forget his persona in my mind to this day i loved as i got to know what kind of man he was and i feel him in my heart to this day
I was serving a Temporary Duty, in Italy, with the United States Air Force, during the summer of 1997. With almost no advance planning, I was included in a trip to Rome, from Aviano Air Base in Northern Italy, along with our Resident Priest, who also happened to be a sitting Justice with the Supreme Court of the Catholic Church. One of the highlights of this little trip was to see Pope John Paul II in an audience. I was so moved by the grace and holiness projected by his holiness. The Pope greeted each group that was in the auditorium in their native language, which in itself is a task that requires knowledge that is out of reach of the common individual. Not only did His Holiness introduce our group in perfect English, his genuine warmth and love that he radiated made us all feel like we were the only ones in the audience. I truly feel that we (I) was in the presence of a individual that if one is lucky, encounters one only once in a lifetime. I have not cried many times in my adult life, but I say here and now, that I cried without shame or abandon, when Pope John Paul II passed away. As I had spent even just a short time at the Vatican, my family turned to me to tell them all that I had learned not only of the City, but also about the wonderful, Blessed, God Loving, Proclaimer of Christ, that I had the chance to stand in the presence of. Vaya con Dios, Papa
I have on my wall a photo of myself shaking hands with JPII. When he had passed by, one of my students remarked that he had an excruciating sadness in his eyes. I told her that was to be expected when one man held the hopes and love of over one billion people on his back. He kept that burden aloft over the rest of his life though it bowed his back a great deal. God bless him.
I had the priviledge to attend the Pope's outdoor Mass in Rome during my honeymoon. One of the highlights of my life occurred that day. The Popemobile turned the corner toward me and, as I joined in the chant, "Papa, Papa", Pope John Paul II shook my hand – me, a 22-year-old woman from a small town in Pennsylvania, USA! I was overjoyed and overcome by emotion.
I remember his eyes. They shone with kindness. May we emulate his love for all.
I saw the pope during his visit to Panama. It lasted but a second, and was later unable to go to the mass he offered, but his image is burned in my memory and from that brief instance onward I felt personally connected to him. I feel he will be made a saint very soon.