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cj_pope_test.sPubDate = "7/5/2005 9:01:40 PM GMT";
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cj_pope_test.appHeader = "YOUR PHOTOS";
cj_pope_test.sTitle = "Citizen Journalist - Encounters with Pope John Paul II";
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cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Grandpa Pontiff","<headline/><br>In October, 2003 we traveled with our 3-year-old daughter Natalie to Rome. We participated in the Pope's audience and something special and unimaginable happened. My daughter kissed him on his forehead and told him that he was her grandpa (in Polish). He looked at her, touched her cheek and blessed her. These were the longest and the most beautiful minutes of our lives.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope14.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Beata Kozak, Arlington Heights, Ill.<br clear=all>", "", "186", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","A loving Father","<headline/><br>My son Matthew (age 7) and I found ourselves in the presence of his Holiness after a general audience in February, 1996. Matthew, who was acting like a normal child of seven, was restless waiting for the Holy Father. When John Paul received us, my son's entire demeanor changed. He became a serene awestruck child, which is not a usual occurrence for a child with Angleman Syndrome. While Matthew is hyper-motoric by nature, in this case, he was mesmerized by the gaze of the Holy Father, at total peace. After being blessed by the Pope as he turned to leave, Matthew to my utter dismay, reached out & took into his hand the Pope's golden cross. Matthew just did not want him to leave. The Holy Father looked at Matthew and said in the authoritative voice of a loving Father, \"no, no.\" Matthew immediately let go which by nature would never had happened if I were to say the same.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope19.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Betty Jane Kimble Ianuzzi", "", "158", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Lifetime vow","<headline/><br>We had the special opportunity to be married in St. Peter's and to be blessed by the Pope. I am originally from Venezuela and my husband is from the United States. When I was young, I lived in Italy, and I told everyone that when I grew up I would be wed in the Vatican by the pope, and everyone told me that I was dreaming. I had to leave Italy, but I never lost my dream, and the future brought my husband and me back to Rome. Everyone's life is made up of dreams and hope, and if you keep your faith dreams can become real, and your most treasured hopes can be realized. Thank you Giovanni Paolo II for touching our lives and for being \"El Papa del pueblo\".<br>","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope26.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Blanca Morrison", "", "234", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","He tugged at my beard","<headline/><br>While in Rome, we attend the pope's Wednesday audience in St. Peter's Square. He greeted our group after the general audience. After photos were taken, he spoke to us individually. At the time I had a long, full beard. The Holy Father spotted me and ambled over and grabbed a handful of the beard - pulled on it and asked me in Polish if I was a Russian! (I presume he thought I was a Russian Orthodox Priest!) I responded - in Polish - \"No, Holy Father, I am Irish!\" I told him my grandmother was from Poland and I learned to speak Polish at an early age from her. I am confident that I am one of the few people who ever had the pope tug at their beard! ","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope9.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Fr. John B. Boyle, Pocono Pines, Pa.", "", "273", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Incredible celebration","<headline/><br>On November 3, 2004 Sister Marilou MacDonald (left) and I (right) had the privilege of attending an outdoor audience with Pope John Paul II. We were in Rome to celebrate Sister Marilou's fifty years of religious profession as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On our way to St. Peter's Square, our priest friends told us that we had very good seats for the audience. As we got closer to the square, Father Gill spoke to one of the Swiss guards in Italian and he opened the gate and pointed to the platform where Our Holy Father would be seated. Needless to say, we were speechless! Once we were seated we were informed that we would be among those presented to the Pope. Our first question was, \"What do you say to Our Holy Father. When the car with the Pope in it arrived, the cheers of the crowds rose to \"fever pitch.\" Our Holy Father spoke in at least eight different languages on the Book of Revelation from which the Scriptural readings for Mass that week were taken. When he finished and the ushers came to take us to greet Pope John Paul, our knees turned to water!  However, as we got closer to him a great calm came over us. He took each of us by the hand and blessed us. We told him that we were Immaculate Heart Sisters from Pennsylvania; we asked him to pray for our congregation and we told him that we loved him. It lasted only about one minute; however, the memory is indelibly etched in our minds. ","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope21.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Sister Georgine Marie Williamson, IHM, West Chester, Pa.", "", "138", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Cuban trip","<headline/><br>My Uncle, the Reverend Charles A. Marciano (getting rosary blessed) and Monsignor Robert J. Wargo from Lehigh Valley, Pa. had the opportunity to meet the Pontiff before his trip to Cuba in 1998. Father Marciano accompanied the Pontiff to Cuba and upon his return, he shared that the Pope instilled a sense of hope and fairness, and that the world should expect to see positive changes in Cuba and wherever the Pontiff travels. The Holy Father blessed thousands of rosaries that Father Marciano handed-out to the people of Cuba. ","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope22.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Charles Wiltraut, Allentown, Pa.", "", "200", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Bear paws","<headline/><br>I was lucky to have two close encounters with Pope John Paul II &#150;- first as a child in St. Peter's Square when his Popemobile stopped in front of our family, and second when our multimedia team presented to him a CD-ROM we made about him (the first CD-ROM ever about Pope JPII, so it was a big thing for the Vatican!). I remember his huge hands clasping mine -- they don't look so large in the photos, but to me they seemed like bear paws, warm and fuzzy and all-encompassing that my hands disappeared in them. He had such an aura of joy and goodness emanating from his presence. He told us to keep it up, to keep doing good things. It was such an affirmation of the work that I was doing. The experience of meeting him moved me deeply and I will treasure those memories as long as I live. ","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope25.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Anali Drilon", "", "224", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Special nuptials","<headline/><br>On December 14, 1999, my husband Calvin and I had the honor of being married at St. Peter's Basilica in the Chapel of the Choir. The next day we were invited back to St. Peters audience hall for his weekly audience with special tickets to sit in the newlyweds section which was very close to the Pope. The moment he walked on stage I was overcome with a flood of emotion and tears. At the end of the audience we were escorted on stage to meet him. Never have I been in the presence of a more beautiful, Holy human being. He asked were we were from and we told him the United States to which he smiled and replied \"Ah Americano!\" We were put at ease by this exchange and his radiant smile. We then thanked the Holy Father for this honor, kissed his ring and he then blessed us. My husband and I will forever be humbled by these experience and continue to give praise and thanks for these miraculous opportunities.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope17.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Vanessa Miller of Minnesota", "", "248", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Art fan","<headline/><br>My brother, Ron DiScenza is an American artist that lives in Italy. In 1996 he was commissioned by a small town in central Italy called Agnone, to create a painting depicting their pilgrimage to the Vatican City on Dec. 8th. The painting was given to the pope and he later personally invited my brother to visit with him. In one of the pictures he is blessing a small version of the painting that Ron carries with him all the time. The original is at the Vatican.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope18.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Mari", "", "226", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Triplet blessing","<headline/><br>My mother and I had the honor of meeting Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in January 1996, after attending the ordination of a very close friend, Bishop Anthony Justs of Riga, Latvia. One by one, we were ushered forward to meet him, each introduced individually by Bishop Justs. My mother went up first before me, and the Pope bowed his head to her, as he did with all the others. Then, it was my turn. As Bishop Justs was introducing me, he remembered gleefully with a twinkle in his eye, \"and Father... Lisa is a triplet!\"  At that, the Pope looked up at me, and spoke the first words that he did to any in our group, \"Oh really? You're a triplet?\" I was speechless, truly feeling the presence of God before me. When I was finally able to say the words, \"Yes, Father, I am indeed a triplet.\" I was amazed as he raised his right hand and blessed me.  As we walked away, my mother exclaimed with a chuckle, \"But I brought the three of you into this world... why didn't he bless me?\" I smiled and replied, \"I think his blessing extends to all of us.\" ","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope20.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Lisa Amore, Seattle, Wash.", "", "165", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Papal birthday","<headline/><br>We visited Rome in 2000 and had the chance to attend a special mass at the Vatican on May 18th for the 80th birthday of the Pope. After the celebration, he drove right in front of us. We strongly felt his presence. We had tears in our eyes. It was quite a special day, a day we will never forget. He was a great Pope.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope23.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Nicole and Clem Duchsne, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.", "", "186", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","As a cardinal","<headline/><br>This is a picture of the pope when he visited Edmonton in 1968 (he was a cardinal then) with a picture of my brother (who has since passed). This photo stays with our family as a very special, beautiful memory.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope16.small.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Alice Szwender-Coley, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada", "", "198", "130", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Kneeling before him","<headline/><br>On January 18, 2005, I had the great honor of meeting Pope John Paul II during a private audience, just 13 days before his first hospitalization. I knelt before him, then rose and began moving away. When I later was able to view a video of the event, I was stunned at how brief a time I was actually before him. It had seemed like all the time in the world. ","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope12.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Karen Hadley, Clearwater, Fla.", "", "197", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Infant meeting","<headline/><br>This picture is from his trip to St. Patrick's Church in Cummings, Iowa on October 4, 1979.  I was two years old and you can just see me reaching towards the Pope before he picked me up.  My mother recounts that at that age it was very unusual for me to reach for strangers, but she believes that I could sense his goodness.  I often look at this picture and think how lucky I was to be so close to a great man like that and I hope, in some small way, to live up to his example.  I am currently a second year medical student at St. George's University in Grenada, West Indies.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope13.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Andrew Bognanno, Canandaigua, N.Y.", "", "192", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Blessing the brides","<headline/><br>When my daughter was attending college during her sophomore year in Rome (1997), I had the opportunity to visit her and attend the Holy Father's Wednesday outdoor audience one beautiful Spring day. One of the images that will always remain with me is of him bestowing his blessing upon recent brides and grooms.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope10.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Donna Andrews Oakton, Va.", "", "178", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Last healthy mass","<headline/><br>Just this January 5, the last papal audience he gave in good health, a nun gave me her extra ticket. At the audience, he was in the best shape that I'd ever seen him. will always remember masses in the piazza where we'd all chant \"JPII...we love you!\"","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope11.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Cynthia Drescher, Toledo, Ohio", "", "128", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","A blessed ticket","<headline/><br>In September of last year we had general audience tickets to see the Pope. I knew we would be soooo far back, but the nun assured me, laughing, not to worry, \"His blessing reaches that far!\" she said. On the train, we met a girl, who by chance asked us if we were going to the Papal Audience. She gave us extra tickets. It was a total miracle! We ended up sitting so very close to him. It was a day I'll never forget, and feel very blessed to have experienced.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/popepic2.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Annette Novak, Independence, Mo.", "", "186", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Wonderful surprise","<headline/><br>This past summer, while in Rome we came in contact with a young Italian restaurant owner. The owner took a liking to my sons, befriended us, and by the end of the evening, he told us to be ready by 8 a.m. and he would pick us up and take us to the Pope's summer home for his weekly Sunday Blessing. There, we were escorted by the Swiss Guard to the very front of the court yard. He was wheeled out on to a stage and spoke for 45 minutes in Italian. Later to our surprise... we were escorted up on stage to receive a blessing from Pope John Paul II.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope7.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Rose Cahill, Yarmouth Port, Mass.", "", "149", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Texas trip","<headline/><br>In my 69 years of age and during my 32 years in Public Service I have met heads of state and many dignitaries such as Presidents and Attorneys General but I had never had the Spiritual experience of feeling the presence of God in front of me until I was blessed to shake hands with his holiness Pope John Paul II during his visit to San Antonio, Texas in 1987.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/popepic5.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Daniel E. Maeso", "", "189", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","God's presence","<headline/><br>Here are some pictures that my husband took while at the mass this December, while being stationed with the U.S. military in Italy. We were about 10 feet away from him, as he passed by us. We Felt so much Love and God's True pressence. My husband took with him to Afghanistan a rosary that we bought at the Vatican that was blessed by the Pope himself. He knows he is still watching over him.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/pope8.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Nina Tirado", "", "185", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
cj_pope_test[i++] = new Array("","Alaskan visit","<headline/><br>If someone had told me back when I first arrived in Alaska that Pope John <br>Paul would one day visit beautiful Alaska in 1981, I would never have believed it ! But there I was standing with my family in the snow with a huge crowd in Anchorage that day looking in awe watching Pope John Paul II in his long white coat and bright red Vatican hat walk through the crowds, <br>touching children sweetly as he always does, grinning widely with his twinkling eyes.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/MSNBC%20TV/CJ/Photos/popepic4.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "From Susan Vallejo, Anchorage, Alaska", "", "260", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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