By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Local prayers for Pope John Paul are being offered at Catholic churches across Western New York.
At St. John Gualbert's Church in Cheektowaga, Father David Biakowski says they prayed for the Holy Father at the Friday morning Mass. Fr. Biakowski offered his personal feelings on learning of the Pope's deteriorating condition.
"I feel like a void is being created," Fr. Biakowski said. "It is hard to imagine Catholicism without Pope John Paul, II. For some of our people, they have never known any other Pope. He has given a whole character to the Church by his type of personality."
Biakowski says the Pope will be remembered during the Prayer of the Faithful at every Mass at his church as they await word of the Holy Father's condition.
Buffalo Bishop Edward Kmiec says even in this moment of "grave illness," Pope John Paul is demonstrating that life is precious at every stage. Kmiec says he joins Catholics and everyone across the region who is praying for the Holy Father as he continues his "very public" and "courageous struggle".
Bishop Kmiec was scheduled to celebrate a Mass for the Pope at St. Joseph's Cathedral at 12noon Friday.