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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1979)
Pipe II HI r :'5 IF- iJvrAC Sri! x 8 -f . , , 7' 1 V 5 I t 1 5 i O I ..a. 7n farming you cooperate with the Creator Pope John Paul 11 Des Moines, Oct 4, 1979 Photo by Tom Gessner End world hunger, Pope asks farmers By Alice Hrnicek DES MOINES-Pope John Piul II soft ened his stern American message to the simple concerns of rural life as he addressed about 340,000 people in a converted Des Moines cow pasture and alfalfa field Thurs day. The pope praised American farmers for advancing agriculture,, but urged them to cooperate with God in feeding the world's famished and conserving land for future generations. "You have the potential to provide food for the millions who have nothing to eat and thus rid the world of famine,' the pontiff said in a deep Polish accent. The pontiff avoided controversial issues that prevailed in his speeches in other American cities. Clad is a simple white robe, the pope instead celebrated the agricultural themes of the patron saint of the day, St. Francis of Assisi, in a two hour Mass at Living History Farms on the west edge of Des Moines. ARRIVING AT 1:45 pjn. at the Des Moines, airport forty-five minutes late be cause of a delay in departure from Phil adelphia, the pope flew by helicopter to St. Patrick's Church, a 127earold Irish settlement with a congregation of 205, a tew miles west of Des Moines in dimming. After a 20 minute courtyard visit with the parishioners, he flew to Living History Farms in an army helicopter, Angel One, preceded by a helicopter carrying the press corps. Many had waited hours, with several hundred trieklin in a full day before the pope's arrival to camp out in sleeping bags and down feather coats. Security guards kept them several hundred feet from the altar throughout the night. Lifting Italian, Polish and American flags at his 3:15 pjn. arrival, the crowd quited in eager anticipation of the pope s words. A banner near the fronted, 'We Lutherans love the pope too." "You support the lives of millions who themselves do not work on the land, but who live because of whit you produce, the pope said as he stood near an altar on top of a grassy hill in full face of a cutting wind. HE PLEADED with the farmers to prac tice three Important principles of Jesus: rratitude.lmd conservation and generosity. Because the fanner depends on God lor favorable weather conditions, he should be grateful, he said. "Even the natural disasters, such as hail storms and drought, tornadoes or floods, remind the farmer of his dependence upon God." The pope added that farmers must con serve the land which is entrusted to them by God. He warned that farming is more than a way to earn a living. "In farming, you cooperate with the Creator in the very sustenance of life on earth," he said. The pontiff also implored farmers to promote rural development and to share their food with the world. Extending his arms out to the people from an altar constructed for the visit and surrounded by chrysanthemums and mari golds he accepted grains and other harvest fruits. JOSEPH HAYS, the farmer who origin ally conceived the idea to invite the pope, carried the water, wine and host to the Pope with his family. By shaking hands and embracing, the crowd joined in the universal greeting of "Peace be with you." The pope then issued communion to 150 participants, ignoring a change in church doctrine refusing to put wagers in the hands of those who requested it and placing them directly in their mouths. Priests gave communion to the crowd. The pope sang a closing blessing in Latin. Donning his regal miter, he walked to the edge of the crowd, amid cheers of "Long live the pope!" As he turned to go back to the heli copter, hundreds broke through National Guard security to escort him. No one touched him. Thirty feet from the altar, priests wear ing white cassocks and some with coats and baseball or stocking caps to protect against the cold,'-stood balancing on the tops of their chain vying with each other to view the pope's procession. .. Reverend Robert J. Waters, i priest on a three week recruiting tour for San Diego University, said he was excited to be sitting in the front rows. I've been going to all the cities that the pope went to and IVe seen the president and a lot of others,- he said. "But I never thought I'd see him." 80,000 member Des Moines Diocese, said, he anticipated, the visit to gq as planned.. . i Tt pope'svlsit - to rural Iowa Will be more relaxed than his other visits," Bishop Dingman said. "This should be one of the highlights of his trip." Bishop Dingman said the impact of the visit would be immense, resulting in a resurgence of faith. "Des Moines has been a magnificent illustration of how we can all cooperate the business, civic, religious and ecumenical communities," he said. Wednesday, the ICLU agreed to declare a paid holiday for businesses. Schools male their own decisions. The day started early for the thousands who lined up expecting to be admitted at 6 ajn. But officials decided to wait until 7 am. to open the gate because it was still dark at 6. When the gate opened, people squeezed through and raced to find a spot close to the front. . People on pilgrimmages were not stop ped by the cold. A group of high school Students walked 150 miles. Buses and cars were parked as far as 10 miles away, according to a Des Moines deputy sheriff. Country roads were closed early the night before. , Eighteen loudspeakers tang with hymns and festive songs including "Ave Maria" and "OhWhat a Beautiful Morning," as the crowd increased by thousands each hour. No site in Iowa has ever hosted as large a crowd. Living History Farms, a historical monument to past, present and future farming methods, is an active museum, farm manager Vincent King said. Preparations involved three weeks of voluntary labor by more than 100 people in prematurely harvesting jrops and remov ing fences, he said. The farms had to pre pare for the comhusking contest Saturday, one of two annual festivals. Free will donation boxes buried six feet in the ground and 1,500 portable toilets were scattered about. Choirs from area colleges and high schools sang next to the altar on a platform built of wood planking. The pope left Des Moines for Chicago and Washington D.C, at 5:30 pjn.. an hour behind schedule. THE SUN ROSE to an almost clear sky and nippy breeze. However, clouds over cast the scene later in the morning threat ening a dark greeting for the pope. By the The pope left Des Moines for Chicago time he arrived, though, the clouds were and Washington, D.C, at 5:30 pjn., an gone. hour behind schedule. f.yw (r - i -i 11 . THE DAY BEFORE the popes arrival," Bishop Maurice J. Dingman, head of the Photo try Taw Cmntr Thoui roped off only 150 feet from the pope, these Nuns carried binoculars to ia- sure a clear view of the Ilofy Father. .". "J