Emmy Misquith, Bajpe

As I attended this Silver Jubilee of the Papal Visit, I found myself reminiscing the time when I was a youth volunteer and saw the Pope up close during his visit to Mangalore in 1986. I consider myself very lucky indeed to be present at both occasions. Many thanks to Malli for donating his land and the contractor Mr Ronald Dsouza for his hard work. I earnestly pray that the Pope be soon included in the list of Saints after his beatification on May 1st, the Feast of Divine Mercy.

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G.PINTO, kulshekar,mangalore

GOOD thing a monument has established at the sight,.in memory of our late pope.my humble request the church authorities,even at this stage instead giving more interest in building structural church,why not they are not interested in building spiritual church,which is the need of the day.pls protect the church which is in decaying stage spiritually

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Rev Dr H M Duke, Mangalore/USA

On 6th Feb 25 years ago, on that memorable day, I was present along with Bishops S R Furtado and C D Jathana from CSI to meet and greet His Holiness Pope John Paul II when he visited our ‘blessed city’ Mangalore, during his pilgrimage of peace to India. Today we want to commend Bishop and the Diocese for consecrating that blessed land and also errecting the bust of this revered Pope on the spot where this greatest pastoral visit and also historical event took place as Christ’s ambassador . Then Bishop Basil was not only graciously invited but also gave the privlege for us to participate in the worship service where Rev Dr [later bishop] C L Furtado did the Bible reading.

So, it was a spirit filled ecumenical event. I am sure it was not only a gathering of the Christians but also of the whole community to show our solidarity to welcome a world spiritual leader and also to to worship God, with jubiliation at the specially erected altar. We cannot forget when the Pope greeted the crowd in his charismatic style by clearly announcing in our 'kasturi' Kannada language ‘Let us all strive and work together to build a peaceful and loving society!’ Though it was not in the mother tongue of the Roman Catholics in our part of the world,yet the whole crowd roared and responded with respectable ovation. We do hope that prayer will be answered by the people in our land for generations regardless of our faith background to usher in the Kingdom of God with peace and justice, to whole humnaity

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Jawar D'Souza, M'lore/Doha

The Roman Catholic community should highly appreciate and thank Mr Malli for his generosity. we all should remember him in our daily prayer's so that he and his family will gain good health and more wealth. I still remember the day of his holiness visit to Mangalore. I was on leave and my brother who was studying for his priest hood in Malleshwaram Bangalore had come down to Mangalore with some of his co brother's to see the Pope. We had to walk a long way and the local people were very kind in offering water to the visitor's as it was very hot day. God bless all.

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malli, mangalore

One must not forget the contractor Mr Ronald P Dsouza from Derebail parish who struggled day and night to complete the stage in record time in the once barren land ferrying water in barrels in his jeep from his residence,inspite of his ill health. He has been blessed abundantly by god almighty but men of god have forgotten him.

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CHRIS RUBY VIJAY D'SILVA, CHRIST THE KING CHURCH - TRASI

Papal visit place is place of Peace & Love to all the mankind. Love converts heart give peace and shanthi shanthi nimagagali – word of Pope John Paul II.
I think this place is precious to all the mankind of Mangalore Diocese. While celebrating 125 years jubilee of Mangalore Diocese, this place may be memorable as a place of love & peace.
Pope John Paul II was kneel down and pray in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi at Rajghat New Delhi during his first visit 1986 and tries to kiss the Samadhi during 1999 visit. He did because disciple of God. Whoever disciple of God never see the religion only seeing the mankind or human being.

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Aiwyn j Dsouza(JOSLETH), Panir Deralakatte, Manglore.

I appreciate Mr. Manohar Malli Donor of the land containing the stage of Pope's arrival on Feb 6th 1986,which is named as "Pope Layout" I thank and greatful to him for his love & sacrifice for christian community.
The Popal visit to Mangalore 25 years ago does contribute in a great way that Mangalore is a "Rome of the East" with the headquarters of so many Missionery Groups. The multi-religious people of Mangalore deserve to be highly complemented for the smooth and cordial relations that we enjoy most of the time. Events such as these should obviously solidify our role and should compromise some of the situations that prevail

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Aiwyn j Dsouza(JOSLETH), Panir Deralakatte, Manglore.

I appreciate Mr. Manohar Malli Donor of the land containing the stage of Pope's arrival on Feb 6th 1986,which is named as "Pope Layout" I thank and greatful to him for his love & sacrifice for christian community.
The Popal visit to Mangalore 25 years ago does contribute in a great way that Mangalore is a "Rome of the East" with the headquarters of so many Missionery Groups. The multi-religious people of Mangalore deserve to be highly complemented for the smooth and cordial relations that we enjoy most of the time. Events such as these should obviously solidify our role and should compromise some of the situations that prevail

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juliana, udupi

Very fine. But 2008 what to do?

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Max & Jessie Rasquinha, Mangalore/Houston, Texas

Revival of the past events thru our thoughts, memories and celebrations is an excellent way for the people of Mangalore to boast on the eminent visit of Pope John Paul II to our home town 25 years ago. When we display these news coverages with colorful photographs to the Western world it makes us feel equally proud and jubilant. It also facilitates us to show the secular values of India when the world is occupied with so many disturbing situations.

The Popal visit to Mangalore 25 years ago does contribute in a great way that Mangalore is a "Rome of the East" with the headquarters of so many Missionery Groups. The multi-religious people of Mangalore deserve to be highly complemented for the smooth and cordial relations that we enjoy most of the time. Events such as these should obviously solidify our role and should compromise some of the situations that prevail.

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joegonsalves, Mangalore

Indeed it was a great occasion when Pope John Paul II visited Bajpe Airport. There were several people who were given different portfolios in connection with arrangements for the visit of The Head of The Catholic Church to Mangalore. Monsignor Alexander D'Souza was the convener and he did a great job. The important jobs were assigned to Paul Rodrigues (transport), Mr. Blasius D'Souza (housing) and I was assigned the important portfolio to make security arrangements in conjunction with the department of law and order. The former Bishop Rev. Dr. B.S. D'Souza kindly invited me to lunch with The Church hierarchy and thereafter we proceeded to The Airport by a bus specially chartered for the purpose. Mr. Maxie Lobo took the responsibility to drive us all to The Airport.

To ensure that nothing went wrong with regard to to issue of passes to The Venue I had to interact with Mr. Kasturi Rangan - the then Superintendent of Police who was kind enough to hand over all the passes to me to be issued to various people. Thirty five special passes were issued in Delhi for a few people to proceed to The tarmac and it was a great moment for me to be introduced to The Pope by Bishop Basil. I have preserved the picture taken on the occasion with The Pope and our then Bishop.

It is good for me to sit back and reflect on the great occasion. I am ever grateful to The late Bishop Basil for the honour he bestowed on me for the occasion. That is HISTORY

Joe Gonsalves

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Alwyn, Mangalore - USA

Priests have received a power which God has given neither to angels nor to archangels. It was said to them: ‘Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever you shall loose, shall be loosed.’ Temporal rulers have indeed the power of binding but they can only bind the body. Priests, in contrast, can bind with a bond which pertains to the soul itself and transcends the very heavens. Did [God] not give them all the powers of heaven?...What greater power is there than this? The Father has given all judgment to the Son. And now I see the Son placing all this power in the hands of men. They are raised to this dignity as if they were already gathered up to heaven".

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D M D Souza, Bantwal

The day is still green in my memory-with so many vehicles unable to move we walked a long distance-to see the charismatic leader who was chosen by the Lord himself-who had defied bullets a few years back. I saw sea of people, which included from all walks of life irrespective of whether they were able to walk-on that day we didn't feel hunger,thirst or sick amongst us were able to walk along with us. A heartening thing is I saw people from all religions were sitting on ground with me, despite many threats against his visit.
We were entralled with his opening address in our native Kannada, which was recorded & was later broadcast by Mangalore Radio Station.
Finally when we were returning the police who did their duty asked us for the fruits still left with us to quench their thirst-& we gladly obliged them for their untiring service all day.

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Paul Pinto & Fly, Bajpe

Nice pics.

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Nischal Ferrao, Belman/ Muscat

A wonderful experience which still live in my memory of Pontiff's visit on 6th feb 1986.

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dapsy vaz, m'lore/pangla

thanks to you...mr.malli may god bless you n fulfill all your dreams along with good healthy life... LONG LIVE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY, LORD KEEP US AWAY FROM ALL THE ENEMIES...

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