Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson - Twenty years ago a crowd of approximately 4,000 people waited on the flats in Fort Simpson for a much anticipated event.

Huddled under raincoats and sheets of clear plastic they tried to stay dry in the light rain so they could be in the presence of a special man.

Pope John Paul II greets then Fort Simpson mayor Ron McCagg, right, at the village's airport in 1987 while then Chief Jerry Antoine, Bishop Denis Croteau, Beatrice Antoine and erstwhile Fort Simpson Metis Nation president Albertine Rodh watch. - photo courtesy of Ron McCagg

Sept. 20 marks the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's trip to the village.

The visit was a special time, said Bishop Denis Croteau of the Mackenzie Diocese. Croteau had been a bishop less than a year when he received the Pope in 1987.

It was raining a bit on Sept. 20 at 8 a.m. before the Pope's arrival but at 10 a.m. a rainbow appeared as the Boeing 737 landed, Croteau recalled.

Croteau went into the plane to greet the Pope, who was sitting in his seat in contemplation and didn't notice him. The Pope's secretary tugged on his cassock and he looked up and greeted him, said Croteau.

Outside the plane, the pontiff was greeted by a number of local leaders and delegates before being driven to what is now known as the Papal site.

Sitting in the car during the trips both to and from the airport gave Croteau a half-an-hour audience with John Paul II.

"That was special," he said.

"He was like a grandfather - very kind and easy to talk to."

At the flats a large crowd of people who had gathered from across the NWT, Alberta, Saskatchewan and other provinces met the Pope. They had travelled to Fort Simpson by car, plane and boat so they could be part of the event.

"People were excited," said Croteau.

The Pope began by greeting the people and doing the blessing of the four directions at the monument. He then walked down the path lined by the crowd towards the teepee.

"Everybody wanted to shake hands with him," said Croteau.

The Pope was good with crowds and took his time to shake hands and bless children, he recalled.

"He was very friendly," said Stephen Rowan who was watching from the crowd.

The mood among the people was one of excitement but also respect.

"I know I was thrilled to see the Pope," Rowan said.

Once at the teepee the pontiff met with a number of leaders and elders before retiring. He then came back to conduct the communion service.

"He looked exactly as he should have," said Rowan about the figure of the Pope at the podium.

At the beginning of the service John Paul II delivered a short message in Slavey to the crowd.

"I can remember people clapping afterwards," said Rowan.

Andy Norwegian remembers the part he played in the Pope's message.

For the first planned visit in Sept. 1984 Norwegian had been invited to translate into Slavey a message that the Pope wanted to share. That visit was cancelled because heavy fog cover restricted the plane carrying the Pope from landing.

For the second visit Norwegian wrote another message. The Pope wasn't sure about some of the pronunciation so Norwegian had the chance to meet with him in a small teepee behind the main podium.

Norwegian's heart was racing when he met the pontiff but a few minutes in his presence soon put him at ease.

"I was amazed at how calm he was," Norwegian said.

Norwegian had heard that the Pope spoke many languages but was still surprised at how accurately he pronounced words in Slavey even without assistance.

"He was able to produce the sound quite quickly," said Norwegian.

Following the service the Pope returned to the airport where he was seen off by a group of children.

With so many people arriving to see John Paul II's visit the village was a busy place both before and after the event, said Rowan.

Following the Pope's departure Rowan walked around the area that is currently the golf course. For the visit, land had been cleared and the area was used as a campground for visitors.

"There were groups of people all over who were celebrating the great event," said Rowan.

People joined together and held handgames and shared food such as dry meat.

"It was an interesting time," remembers Ron McCagg who was the mayor of Fort Simpson at the time.

In preparation for the visit a military contingent arrived in the village and set up their base behind Dehcho Hall. There were also many RCMP officers as well as local people who made up a security force. The organizing committee prepared for all contingencies.

"All the things we wouldn't think about because we're such a peaceful little place," said McCagg.

Given the length of the preparation work the event seemed to be over in a flash but it was well worth it, he said.

"The remarkable thing was the man kept his word," said McCagg, referring to the Pope's promise to return after the failed attempt in 1984.