Yellowknife (Apr 06/05) - Pope John Paul II will be remembered by many as a sincere "grandfather" who championed aboriginal rights and stood true to his faith under incredible pressure.

During his 26 year papacy, John Paul visited the Northwest Territories twice and touched the lives of hundreds of Northerners.

Pope John Paul II walks into the terminal at the Yellowknife Airport in September 1984 after his plane was unable to land in Fort Simpson due to fog. The pope returned to the Deh Cho village in 1987. - NNSL file photo

John Paul died April 2 at the Vatican at age 84.

A scheduled stop in Fort Simpson in 1984 turned into a two-hour stopover at the Yellowknife airport when fog prevented his plane from landing in the Deh Cho village. He fulfilled a promise to return in 1987, and celebrated mass for 4,000 people.

About 200 people gathered at St. Patrick's church Monday night for a 90 minute mass to celebrate his life.

"The Pope never condemned this world," said Bishop Denis Croteau, wearing the bleached white, beaded caribou robe the Pope wore in Simpson in 1987. "He challenged us, saying there is a better way. I believe that Pope John Paul was a prophet."

Croteau described the Pope as a "grandfather who was easy to talk to." He said that even as John Paul was dying, he remained true to his message.

"He wanted to show that life in all its different states has value, has dignity."

The Pope's stand against birth control, abortion, euthanasia and homosexuality earned him many detractors, but Croteau said John Paul had to stay true to 2,000 years of tradition.

John Paul inspired political leaders and ordinary folk alike.

In 2001, Clayton Morrell met the Pope at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican during preparations for World Youth Day.

"He's not some superhero who will contradict previous teaching," said Morrell. "John Paul gave Catholics the courage to stand up and be proud."

Father Joe Daley said one of the Pope's most endearing qualities was his "ability to relate to people and to engage people. (He was) very authentic. He truly was who he was. He had a combination of things - strength of character and his Christian faith was solid," said Daley.

Former NWT premier and Dene Nation grand chief Stephen Kakfwi remembered the Pope as absolutely sincere. "He took time to learn Dene words, so he could say things in Dene," said Kakfwi, who worked with the Dene Nation and Assembly of First Nations to bring John Paul to Fort Simpson. Kakfwi said it was important that John Paul "took a stand on the side of aboriginal people" and held "Canada to account" for its dealings with First Nations.

"Every time a Canadian official visited the Holy Father, he always asked what was happening with aboriginal people."

Fort Simpson resident Dolly Cazon remembered the emotional visit of Sept. 20, 1987.

"It was very loving, sacred... it was just so holy, so beautiful," she recalled. "People were in tears, happy to have been able to see him."

Some still relive having beheld the Pope, especially those who were able to touch him or feel his touch, Cazon added.

Martina Norwegian and her mother were also among the faithful on hand that day.

"You could see it was a real, real moment for the elders... just to be in his presence, just that aura around him," Norwegian said. "That was all they talked about for the longest time -- what a historical moment."

- with files from Derek Neary