Mangalore:The day exactly 25 years ago (February 6, 1986) was a very special for Mangaloreans, especially the Christians, with approximately five lakh people gathering at Bajpe to have a glimpse of Pope John Paul II, the first and only Pope to visit Karnataka.
Divine presence Pope John Paul II addressing the gathering during his visit to Bajpe near Mangalore on Feburary 6, 1986. Though the Pope was scheduled to visit Bangalore that year, the venue was changed to Mangalore, also known as the “Rome of the East,” as the atmosphere in Bangalore was not conducive.
People cutting across religious and caste lines thronged the venue, near the Bajpe airport, from every nook and corner of the State and outside the State, for the only engagement of the Pope in Karnataka.
‘People saw God’
Many people who had witnessed the historic event attended the special mass on Sunday. Alwyn Noronha, a teacher at St Joseph PU College in Bajpe, and a 10th Standard student then said he felt he was “seeing God” when he saw the Pope. Noronha and his friends reached the venue well before 10 am for the Papal visit scheduled for 2.30 pm.
Businessman V U Seemon, who chauffeured the Pope from the airport to the venue in an open jeep, said it was the most memorable occasion of his life. Stating that he was on “Cloud Nine”, he said he could never forget the “divine” smile on the face of the Pope.
“I can’t explain the divine vibration I had when I was near the Pope,” he says and adds: “You have to experience it to know it.”
Pope memorial:
Thousands of Christians gathered at the same venue near Bajpe on Sunday (06-02-2011) to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Papal visit to the Port City.
Offering a special mass, Mangalore Diocese Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza recalled the Papal visit and his message — “to live like a true Christian and to live harmoniously.” The Bishop also installed a bust of Pope John Paul II at the memorial site.
Earlier, Catholics took out a huge procession to the venue simultaneously from three different areas. The announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that he will beatify Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011, at St Peter’s Square in Rome doubled the joy for the Catholic community.
Divine presence Pope John Paul II addressing the gathering during his visit to Bajpe near Mangalore on Feburary 6, 1986. Though the Pope was scheduled to visit Bangalore that year, the venue was changed to Mangalore, also known as the “Rome of the East,” as the atmosphere in Bangalore was not conducive.
People cutting across religious and caste lines thronged the venue, near the Bajpe airport, from every nook and corner of the State and outside the State, for the only engagement of the Pope in Karnataka.
‘People saw God’
Many people who had witnessed the historic event attended the special mass on Sunday. Alwyn Noronha, a teacher at St Joseph PU College in Bajpe, and a 10th Standard student then said he felt he was “seeing God” when he saw the Pope. Noronha and his friends reached the venue well before 10 am for the Papal visit scheduled for 2.30 pm.Businessman V U Seemon, who chauffeured the Pope from the airport to the venue in an open jeep, said it was the most memorable occasion of his life. Stating that he was on “Cloud Nine”, he said he could never forget the “divine” smile on the face of the Pope.
“I can’t explain the divine vibration I had when I was near the Pope,” he says and adds: “You have to experience it to know it.”
Pope memorial:
Thousands of Christians gathered at the same venue near Bajpe on Sunday (06-02-2011) to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Papal visit to the Port City.
Offering a special mass, Mangalore Diocese Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza recalled the Papal visit and his message — “to live like a true Christian and to live harmoniously.” The Bishop also installed a bust of Pope John Paul II at the memorial site.
Earlier, Catholics took out a huge procession to the venue simultaneously from three different areas. The announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that he will beatify Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011, at St Peter’s Square in Rome doubled the joy for the Catholic community.