AJC.com > Breaking News > Archives > 2005 > April > 01 > Entry
‘Perfect person to lead the church’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Smyrna, parishioners spoke of ailing Pope John Paul II as they made their way to noon mass Friday.
They praised him for his outreach to all parts of the world, his role in the fall of Communism, and his openness and charisma.
“He spoke so many languages, so people felt like he was really talking to them,” said Pat Rossman of Smyrna. “He was the perfect person to lead the church at the time.”
“He truly was a holy man,” said Katherine Garger, of Smyrna. “He was wonderful with the youth of the world, and people appreciated the fact that he loved life, that he enjoyed life. Other popes were isolated.”
“His traveling to other countries had a lot of influence,” said Joe Hawkins of Marietta. “It showed him not just sitting on a throne.”
Henry Y. Harris and his wife, Beverly Harris, of New Orleans, La., attended mass while visiting their daughter who lives in the area.
They said they strongly supported the pope’s “religious conservatism” and hoped his successor would follow.
“Some people might thing we need to go with a new approach in this modern society, but I don’t want the new pope to walk the fence,” Mrs. Harris said.
The Rev. James Kuczynski, the church pastor, cited the pope’s “humanism,” and said, “He’s someone who acted from his heart.”
Permalink | Categories: Pope John Paul
