Vicksburg priests and lay people said Pope John Paul II will be remembered for his firm stand on human rights and the power of his personality to move people to action.

The Rev. Charles Boykins of St. Mary’s Catholic Church said the 84-year-old pope inspired the youth of the church.

“He’s certainly had a personal influence on the church. He’s drawn people to him, personality-wise … He’s certainly had an enormous impact on the youth of the church. They really listen to him,” Boykins said.

One of the pope’s principal legacies will be the role he played during the fall of communism.

“Generally speaking, he had an enormous influence on the Polish labor movement and how he directed that,” Boykins said.

Polish native and Vicksburg resident Zenon “Sonny” Sucharski said, “Pope John Paul II had a big effect on Poland becoming free. He stood up for what he said.”

Sucharski, who left Poland in 1939, remembered a lighthearted moment when Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Krakow, was elected pope in 1978 at age 58. He was the first Polish pope.

“I was in the First National Bank building and this lady came up to me and told me he had been elected pope. I told her he was my uncle on my mother’s side,” Sucharski said jokingly.

Jimmy Speyerer of Vicksburg, a Catholic who attends Mass daily, said the pope will be remembered for the force of his ideas as well as his ability to bring people together.

“In his reign, you see, he has been a friend to all people, a friend to all religions, and he is a very kind and gentle man. He wrote some brilliant theses. Even when people were saying he was too old and he should resign, he was writing some brilliant things for the world,” Speyerer said.

The Rev. Patrick Farrell of St. Paul’s Catholic Church said human rights will be another important legacy.

“That stance is very near and dear to Americans … the dignity of every human life,” Farrell said.

Farrell said Pope John Paul II confronted despots at every opportunity like President Marcos of the Philippines and the president of Argentina.

“It is easy to speak (for human rights) in New Orleans (during his papal visit in 1987), but he did it where it would not be well-received,” Farrell said.

The pope made a special effort to unite people of different religions, Farrell said.

“The pope, after 9/11, seemed to be trying to bring religious leaders of all faiths to find the common ground, the respect for human life,” Farrell said.