Keeper of the Faith: 1993 9NEWS documentary ahead of Pope John Paul II visit

Ahead of Gary Shapiro's retirement, he is looking back at some of the most memorable specials he did while at 9NEWS.
From Gary:
"In 1993, Pope John Paul II visited Denver for World Youth Day. It’s a is a worldwide encounter with the Pope, celebrated about every three years in a different country.
It drew thousands of Catholics to Colorado, and was a wonderful event to cover on TV. Before it happened, 9NEWS sent me, Anchor Mike Landess, and photographers Dave Delozier and Mike Watson to Italy and Poland to do an hour special on the Pope.
We had unprecedented access to the Vatican, thanks to the PR people there and the Denver Archdiocese. When Dave befriended the Papal Photographer during a story shoot - he in turn invited Dave to shoot video from the stage as the Pope Celebrated Mass.
We got to meet and talk to the Pope, a highlight of the trip. Another highlight - we shot a story on the Sistine Chapel at 11:00 at night, when no one else was there.
We did a story on the Papal Gardens and St. Peter’s Basilica. And we visited the Pope’s childhood home in Poland, and explored the horrors of the nearby Auschwitz Concentration Camp - horrors that helped shape his life of peace, religion and compassion. We interviewed a childhood friend, a Jewish child who hid from the Nazis in the basement of the Pope’s home.
It was a memorable trip, a wonderful show and a fitting tribute to Pope John Paul II.

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[@nancyaylward1176]

I was blessed enough to see Our Holy Father twice in my lifetime. In 1993 in Denver, CO and in 1997 in Paris France. He was so wonderful and so Holy. He had a great sense of humor. There will never be another Pope as charismatic and as loving. Not only to the Faithful, but to everyone! In 1993 we took 25 children to Denver including 6 adults. My Son was just blown away by Our Holy Father. In 1997, we took 19 kids to Rome and Paris. The crowds were phenomenal. I’m 65 years old now and my Son is now 45 years old. We talk about those trips a lot . God didn’t care what religion You were, He loved all Peoples, just as St Pope John Paul II was called to do. May His love live FOREVER!!

[@Abraham-uk4xy]

It's true he was energetic. But in the cold light of day the hypocrisy is coming out.
He wrote two books encouraging his priests to be celibate. Same time he was having a 31year intimate affair with a Polish philosopher, begun while he was a bishop. The letters have come out now. No wonder he could not discipline Fr. Marciel who had a mistress and a child. So too Archbishop Marckincus who had a son.
Nicaragua priests were sanctioned for joining the government. But the Pope could use Mother Teresa and Mother Tekla's monies in the Vatican bank. Pass this to the solidarity union as salaries for striking workers so they could topple communism in Poland and Russia. His priests cannot do politics but he can.
Both his successors Benedict and Francis lived more moral and honourable lives.

[@Susannah717]

@@Abraham-uk4xyWOW,It’s amazing how much you know about your truth.I think you might want to go to your place of worship,be it Cristian or not and Thank your God that you’re not like our Pope and instead you have turned out to be free of all your judgments 😅 on him. Pat your back.When we finally leave this world that’s when all the REAL truths will be CONFIRMED.

[@Abraham-uk4xy]

@@Susannah717 it's not my truth. It all well-known. The hypocrisy of his sainthood is too much to take really. But in the church they can do anything for the top people. As I have recorded so the angel who writes in the book of gold would have recorded. If he can answer well he will be ok. Otherwise he can be damned. It's not true that all priests and Pope's are in Heaven.

[@IAMChristianMedia]

St. John Paul II, pray for us!

[@alexbrandon2575]

Amazing documentary and commentry

[@ClarenceSpencer-xe6zg]

I'm here my name is Clarence Spencer aka meat meat good morning to you and the world ❤🎉

[@James_Leatherbarrow]

Excellent documentary, but "only the second non-Italian Pope," isn't correct.

[@anitacooney422]

One of my favourite pope Amen