Twenty-five years ago, St. Louis welcomed Pope John Paul II for prayer gatherings and Mass at the Trans World Dome. On Jan. 26-27, 1999, tens of thousands of people saw the Holy Father in person and heard words of encouragement from the future saint.
While his visit was short, St. John Paul II’s time in St. Louis has had a great impact, proving to be what then-Archbishop Justin Rigali described as a “spiritual event of lasting significance.” This is especially true regarding the Holy Father’s impact on youth and young adults.
Twenty thousand youths gathered at the Kiel Center on Jan. 26 to hear from the Holy Father and for spiritual testimonies, worship and reconciliation. With joy, the pope exclaimed, “Tonight, the pope belongs to you.”
St. John Paul II shared this message to those gathered in the arena:
“You are children of the light (John 12:36)! You belong to Christ, and He has called you by name. Your first responsibility is to get to know as much as you can about Him, in your parishes, in religious instruction in your high schools and colleges, in your youth groups and Newman Centers.”
The youth of St. Louis and beyond responded with great fervor. The pope’s words awakened in them the desire to know Jesus. The Church responded, too, with a renewed vision for ministry to youth and young adults. From the parish youth ministries formed and the conferences and pilgrimages established, lasting graces are evident today. Our youth today were not alive for the papal visit, but even they have come to know Christ through the efforts of those in the arena.
The Holy Father encouraged the youth to receive their calling from God, their vocation. “Each of you has a special mission in life, and you are each called to be a disciple of Christ.” Describing these calls as varied and distinct as the “different colors and hues” of the Gateway Arch, the effects on those youth are just as unique.
Whether called to marriage, single lives of service, religious life or priesthood, the youth continued the work of discipleship in their particular ways of life. Good families, servants of the Lord, numerous religious and many of our young clergy were present at the gathering and responded to God’s call.
I can personally speak to the lasting impact of St. John Paul’s visit. As a 12-year-old, I participated with thousands at Mass with the Holy Father on Jan. 27. While I was tired and couldn’t understand what he was saying, Pope John Paul helped me feel connected to the Church in a whole new way. He was my Holy Father, and I, too, am called to “open wide the doors to Christ.” It was an experience that led me closer to Jesus, an encounter I’m still grateful for to this very day.