Special friends: Pope and youth

Ever since his election to the papacy, Pope John Paul II has cultivated a close, friendly relationship with young people across the world.

He repeatedly calls them "dear young people" and "young friends," and meets them at the immense World Youth Day celebrations, presiding over multi-cultural crowds of thousands.

And the youth -- across the world and in the Albany Diocese -- have responded in kind.

On a pedestal

Trisha Niemitall, 18, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Castleton, said, "Teens put him on a pedestal. You can just tell he's an honest and genuine person. He spends a lot of time trying to relate to teens and reach out to us."

For many young people in the Diocese -- high-school students, middle-schoolers and even young adults, married and with children of their own -- John Paul II has been the only pope they've known.

Their understanding of the role of young people in the Church often reflects the Pope's vision of youth making a difference in their local parishes, communities and countries.

Getting involved

"The Pope is really an advocate for youth involvement in the Church, and I am really excited about that," said Halley Sutherland, 17, a student at Catholic Central High School in Troy. "The Pope is really pushing for this, and it's sometimes difficult when people say that 'you're too young to be involved.' I would say that Catholic teens should absolutely get involved as much as they can -- because they can really make a difference."

Hundreds of Catholic teens and young adults from the Diocese have attended events such as 2002's World Youth Day in Toronto, 1995's Papal Mass in New York City's Central Park and 1993's World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado. Many of them recall chanting, "John Paul Two, we love you."

Jason Adams, 19, of Sacred Heart Church in Castleton, who attended the most recent World Youth Day in Toronto, recalls that the night before the papal Mass, "it poured. The Pope came in on a helicopter, and you saw him parade up even though it was really nasty out. And within 15 minutes, it all cleared up."

'Really holy'

Ms. Sutherland's first memory of the Pope involved his role in the Church hierarchy: "I always remember thinking that -- wow, he must be really holy to have gotten to that position," she said.

But many young people see him as more than a spiritual leader; they also see him as a role model and a powerful force in modern world history and politics.

For example, to 18-year-old Tom O'Grady, a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy in Colonie, the pope "seems like a powerful person -- certainly the type of person you'd like to see as a role model. I'm certainly worried about his health because he's the only pope we've ever had. You hope that the new pope would be able to build upon what [John Paul II] laid down in the past 25 years."

"The Pope has a lot of faith in us," said Ms. Niemitall. "He realizes that the continuation of the Church is in our hands, and that we have to get involved as active members. He's getting us involved and realizing that we're important to the faith."

(10/16/03) [[In-content Ad]]