A View From The Flock

One woman's pilgrimage to the heart of her faith and the place of the Pontiff in Catholic America

His doctors had told him to skip St. Louis; and by the final day of John Paul's visit it was clear why. At a prayer service in the city's beautiful basilica he coughed--not continuously, but so deeply that his body jumped forward slightly. His speech, clear enough at a youth rally the night before to elicit roars of laughter, was more slurred. A short prayer he should have spoken was assumed by an assistant.

But there were also reasons why a frail 78-year-old with Parkinson's spent two hectic days in the river city. One was that by hopping from deeply...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!