Campus reacts to death of charismatic pope

Students reacted with sadness and admiration as news of Pope John Paul II's death spread across campus this weekend, recalling his achievements that reshaped the papacy. Masses for the repose of his soul will be celebrated throughout the week.

The pope died of septic shock and cardiocirculatory collapse on Saturday, the Vatican reported.

Michael Kenneally '06 — an undergraduate ministry assistant for the Aquinas Institute, the University's Catholic chaplaincy — described his reaction to the pope's death as "sadness mixed with gratefulness" for John Paul II's papacy.

"The pope was a great man, and he had dedicated so much energy and so many years in serving that it only seemed right that God would call him home," Kenneally said.

During his 26-year reign, John Paul II became the most widely traveled pope in history. He was particularly recognized for proclaiming a steadfast message of love and human dignity and for breaking new ground with his outreach to other faiths.

The Catholic Church will observe nine days of mourning for the pope, which local Catholic groups have already begun following.

On Saturday, the Aquinas Institute prayed the rosary for the soul of the pope. Later that night it screened the documentary "Witness to Hope," a biography of John Paul II.

The Aquinas Institute will remember the pope during its regular 12 p.m. masses this week. It will celebrate a special noon mass with music on the day of the pope's burial, scheduled for later this week.

St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church on Nassau Street will celebrate a memorial mass for the pope today at 7:30 p.m., as well as other services throughout the week.

After the pope's death, the University's Catholic community reflected on the legacy of the man who had led the church for more than two decades.

Father Tom Mullelly, the University's Catholic chaplain, said he was "saddened . . . but optimistic" when he learned of the pope's death.

"Students I've met have a great sense about the pope," Mullelly said, "that he was really a force for good."

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"He showed the love of God, the compassion of Christ to everyone," he added.

Mullelly said that he was hopeful about the future.

"I'm confident that [the pope] will come to a good place with our Lord, and confident that the Holy Spirit will enable the Church to continue its good work," he said.

Kenneally noted the way the pope had "lived out the things he preached, especially when he talked about the dignity of the human person." Kenneally said John Paul II's example became particularly important in his final years, as he demonstrated dignity in the midst of suffering.

"It was a sign of his courage and his humility that he carried on," Kenneally said.

Though John Paul's death did not come as a surprise — his heart and kidneys began to fail last week because of a urinary tract infection, and he was rushed to a hospital in February because of breathing trouble — many students found it difficult to prepare themselves for the loss.

"I was expecting [his death], but still when I heard it I was very shaken up," said Aleksandra Wronecka '08, a Catholic who, like the pope, comes from Poland. "It was like something changing in my life — the world will never be the same."

Wronecka, who saw John Paul II celebrate Mass in Warsaw in 1997, recalled his ability to "find a common language for everyone," especially young people.

"People in Poland really liked his sense of humor. He was always joking," she said.

The pope reached out to other faiths in unprecedented ways, and many non-Catholics expressed sadness at his death.

"I'll always remember him as the pope who prayed at the Western Wall," said Joe Zipkin '07, who is Jewish. "I'm struck by the universal respect that seems to be pouring out for him . . . He will be greatly missed."