Pope John Paul II visited Trinidad briefly on February 5, 1985 , but this brief visit caused a stir of activity and discourse both before and after. The visit of “we Pope” touched thousands, Catholics and non-Catholics, and the Holy Father himself was touched by the welcome we poured out to him as a country.

We would all have our own special memories of the event, and some of us have no memory of it at all because it happened twenty years ago.

I was too young at the time to know what was going on, but I agree that a visit by our beloved Vicar of Christ is worth remembering. The younger generations will depend on those who were there to know what happened, so here are some memories of those who were involved in one way or another. – Kelene Blake

“It was a fantastic event. The excitement of the crowd was unbelievable. On the way from the airport the crowds were so thick that he could hardly pass. Thousands lined the main road and they were all cheering. Perhaps the most significant thing was at the stadium. The people cheered and everyone was so excited. Everyone was chanting ‘We Pope! We Pope!' You could see that he (Pope John Paul II) was delighted with the welcome.”
Clive Pantin – FEEL. Chairman of the event's Airport Sub-committee.

Entering the stadium

“It seems like yesterday in our memories, February 5, 1985 , the blessed day when our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II visited our shores! The three months preceeding his visit were hectic months of preparation.

As this was being organised on very short notice Mr George Matouk had made his house on Flood Street (just across the road from Archbishop's House) available to be used as the Secretariat and it became a hub of activity.

“By the time February 5 dawned everything that could be done had been done and from very early in the morning we were at the Stadium. And then it began to rain, and rain, and rain! That was one factor we couldn't control! But nothing could dampen the excitement that was tangible around the stadium!

“How can we ever forget the unbridled joy that swept our hearts as the pope-mobile emerged through the ‘ Marathon ' tunnel onto the track? The roar of welcome and the chants of ‘We Pope! We Pope! We Pope!' ... and the beaming smile on the face of our beloved Archbishop Anthony Pantin!”
Rhonda Maingot – Living Water Community. Key member of the Secretariat

“We were expecting something tremendous and we were not disappointed at all. The roads were lined with people of all religions. I felt overwhelmed, full of joy. I was covering the event for Catholic News and worked the full 24 hours, and I approached him (the Pope) very closely. He left at midnight , so he was only here for a few hours.

“I will never forget how (some people) were worried about controlling the crowd. The crowds were shouting ‘We Pope!' but they were very disciplined. I remember Peter Telfer leading the procession, it was beautiful!”
Sr Marie Thérèse OP – Catholic News reporter at the event

Altar at the stadium

“There was a little contention about using the drums but Bro Paschal (Jordan OSB) said that we should be a part of the event. It made many people aware of the group, and music like O Creator . We started the ‘We Pope' rhythm and the whole crowd took it up. Even the Archbishop thanked us for the way our rhythms affected the people. It was an insight for many on how you can use rhythm in praise and worship.

“Mawasi Experience played for the Mass as well. We were on the floor in front of the altar, very close to the Pope during Mass. I still have pictures of him. It was important that the whole Church was together, from the Pope to the people of T&T and the Caribbean , celebrating together around the Lord's table.”
Peter Telfer – Mawasi Experience, who led the procession for the Papal Mass.

“I proclaimed the Gospel that day. It was the first time I was ever seeing any Pope. It was a privilege to proclaim the Gospel and to meet him. After the Mass the clergy were able to meet him. I do not know if I will ever have an experience like that again.

“It was the first time I ever saw an atmosphere like that. Everybody was shouting ‘John Paul! We Pope!' and even old ladies were getting into it. Ladies you know were not the kind to raise their hands during Mass were raising their hands and chanting ‘John Paul! We Pope!'.”
Fr Allan Ventour , Administrator of the Cathedral, a concelebrant at the Mass

Tiffany Armstrong in costume

“In those days, Sr Marie Thérèse was chief cook and bottle washer. She used to make all the arrangements and run the show. I can't remember if it was twenty or twenty-five thousand copies of Catholic News printed first, but it wasn't enough so they wanted a second printing. This was the first time I remember we had to do a second printing of the paper.

“I followed the Pope's entrance into the stadium on TV. Preceding the Pope into the stadium was Peter Telfer and Mawasi Experience with their drums singing ‘Is we Pope' and the whole crowd just chanting ‘Is we Pope!' Then the pope-mobile entered with the Pope and Archbishop Pantin, it was really a kind of chaotic scene, really Trinidadian, Carnival-like atmosphere and rhythm.

“I remember the headline for that issue was ‘T'was a night to remember'. We didn't have computers in those days. But it wasn't a large workload to lay out the Catholic News for that event because there were a lot of pictures, and when you're using a lot of pictures it is actually less work than laying out stories. I think we had a bigger paper that was mainly pictures.”
Andy Pitman – Who did the layout of the Catholic News for the event.

“My memory is one of upliftment. I felt very uplifted by the response of my own people and the way we behaved. Many people came out to the stadium and waited patiently even when it was raining.

“When the Pope did come to the stadium, that chant, ‘We Pope, We Pope!' really characterised us as a people. No one told us to say it, it wasn't planned, but it just took over the whole crowd.

“I found out afterward from Fr Peschier, who was in Canada at the time, that it was being shown live there and the Canadians were asking ‘What are they saying? We Pope?'.

“At first I didn't want to go because it was the anniversary of my mother's death. But since I was involved in the Liturgical Commission I ended up going. It turned out to be a joyful experience.”
Sr Catherine Therese Mc Comie - Secretary CEBM

“It was a joyful occasion for me. I really enjoyed the whole ceremony. I was there from early o'clock at the top of the stands. But I have a legacy from the event. At the end of the Mass as I was walking down, around the last two or three steps, I fell and broke my leg, and now I have a permanent reminder.

Former President, Sir Ellis Clarke, receives Communion from Pope John Paul

“I got a lot of attention. Everyone gathered around and took me to the tent where they were dealing with the sick. They sent for an ambulance, it was the first time I rode in one. As the ambulance was

moving through the crowd, people were banging on it saying ‘Nothing wrong with her! She's just trying to get out.' It was mass confusion to get out. And I was a celebrity for a few minutes with a broken leg.

“But I enjoyed the Pope's visit, and sometimes I'm even glad I broke my leg because I have a permanent reminder of seeing the Pope here in Trinidad , something I may never experience again.”
Joyce Smith, CEBM

“I was the chairman for the event so it was my responsibility to have everything properly coordinated. I remember my relief when I saw the Pope's white mitre coming through the ‘sportsman's entrance' at the stadium because that meant he'd arrived. He was standing up on the pope-mobile and the mitre was the first thing one could see.

“Personally, my most memorable moment was when he greeted me. I was the first lay person who was greeted by the Pope. He rested his head on my shoulder and his hand on my other shoulder; that was his greeting. I still have a picture of it which is very dear to me.”
Harold Bertrand – Chairman of the organising committee.

“The mood in the country was different. As a youngster it meant so much to know that the Pope was in your country. The stadium was packed, and when he entered, the feeling was tremendous, the singing, the joy, the love, that was how a perfect utopia world probably is.

Rafael de Leon (Roaring Lion), Wendell Constantine, Archbishop Anthony Pantin, June Gonsalves (third from right), Wayne Berkeley who designed the altar at the stadium, and Harold Bertrand

“I know that walking into the stadium my brother Nigel and I were saying this would be such a long ceremony, but we were both wrong. We enjoyed the day a lot.

“I remember looking at the security booth that the Pope was in, and wondering why he needed that in Trinidad and Tobago . Surely his life was not in danger. Here was a man loved by the people because he was one with the people.

“My Mother, Joyce, the matriarch of the Baptiste family, always made us aware of the caring nature of the Pope and his gift for speech. He could talk on anything, he was so witty, he even knew about sport, particularly football. Maybe that is what helped him with the youth population.

“If there is another chance to have his blessed touch in Trinidad , we must not lose it, he is a father figure like no other. My late dear father Errol Gerard was a hero to all of us, he was what a father should be, but the Pope is a father to all the world.”
Andre Baptiste – (“The fearless one”), director at Toyota Trinidad Ltd

“I remember the programmes we did on TTT prior to the visit. We talked about every aspect of the event, the event programme, the Pope's life, everything. We did these in the weeks before he came.

“I also remember that night at president's house, the little concert that was put on for him, the calypso by The Roaring Lion. I had the privilege to meet the Pope there. I also remember the role Archbishop Pantin played in preparing for the visit and, of course the tremendous rally at the stadium.”
June Gonsalves – Secretary of Archbishop Anthony Pantin

“At the time, as parish priest at Laventille/Morvant, our parish took out an advertisement in the Catholic News welcoming the Pope. I remember the rain, the Roaring Lion, the whole liturgy. I especially remember the experience of community at the National Stadium. There was a sense of community and Church in the whole gathering, even through the rain.”
Msgr Christian Pereira – Vicar General, parish priest of Santa Rosa , Arima