I remember being impressed by the sea of people ”” numbering about 350,000 ”” and watching them move across the fields as they found a place to wait for the pope’s arrival and for the Mass he would celebrate. When it was over, I couldn’t help but wonder what a sight it must have been for the pope as his helicopter flew overhead as the people streamed down the highway on foot (a portion of it was closed), leaving for home and to reflect on his message.
The pope’s words that day about respecting the land and the work of farmers and everyone involved in raising our food and getting it to us still have resonance:
“Land is God’s gift ”¦ land is man’s responsibility,” Pope John Paul told the crowd. “To all you farmers and all who are associated with agricultural productions, I want to say the church highly esteems your work. ”¦ You support the lives of millions. ”¦ Conserve the land well so that future generations will inherit an even richer land than was entrusted to you.”
I was there. What a day. My RC cousins on Dad’s side came up from Keokuk, Iowa to go with me. My PCUSA cousin, on Mom’s side lived in Clive, Iowa, which was a mile from the site. You needed resident passes to get into Clive, so she gave us hers. We got up very early, drove to Clive, she had breakfast ready for us. About 8 am we started the mile plus walk to living history farm. Earlier on the news, they were reporting that the Pope was going to a corn field with a makeshift alter in Iowa. Well, first it was “Living History Farm” (title speaks for inself) and the alter was beautiful solid oak on a beautiful platform with beautiful mums and a beautiful 4 season (which Iowa has) silk back drop. The overkill about how many people would get hurt or die, prior to the day, probably cut the attendance….but they closed the inter-state, the highway, and a couple of town, well organized, lots of EMS, plenty of potties, and her take on the numbers is correct. People came starting before dawn, but when it was over, the crowd disbursed within an hour back to shuttles, and out-of-town buses. We did the Pontif proud…and it truly was ecuminical….with one exception the Episcopal Bishop of Iowa didn’t attend. We were told that he wouldn’t because he couldn’t receive communion. Don’t know how true this was. A few years later the AB of C came to Iowa, and held Mass at Ames, Iowa….the RC bishops came even though they wouldn’t receive – their rule not ours…….We didn’t have as big a crowd as the Pope, but it was bigger than what would be now in that there were a lot more TEC members then…….just a little history lesson from one who was at both events
Dee -that’s a wonderful story. Thank you.