GAINESVILLE - A Gainesville woman is among the thousands in Toronto this week for World Youth Day 2002, an international gathering of Catholics 16-to-35, which the Pope John Paul is attendng.
Eighteen-year-old Mary Stevenson left Saturday night and plans to return Monday.
"We offered it to her as a senior trip instead of going on one of those tours to Mexico," said her mother, Diane.
Mary went with two youth leaders from Saint Michael Catholic Church in Gainesville, Mark Hoffstetter and Suzanne Jabley, and a former member, Claire Nacie, who now lives in Norcross.
They participated in an opening Mass Tuesday night.
"She was very excited," Diane said. "This was different people from all around the world and how they had come from so far to see the pope."
The pontiff arrived Tuesday and surprised many by slowly walking down the stairs of the plane to greet those waiting for him. The group included Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and other dignitaries.
A helicopter later took the pope to a Catholic retreat on Strawberry Island, where he'll get a few days rest.
The pontiff is scheduled to lead a closing Mass Sunday.
It's the 97th foreign trip for the frail pope, who's the most-traveled pontiff in history. He made it despite concerns he's not healthy enough for the eleven-day tour, which will also take him to Guatemala and Mexico.
Tuesday
August 5th, 2025
2:28AM
