Pope John Paul II performs Mass at the Pontiac Silverdome - 1987

Pope’s visit still etched in area’s memory

DETROIT — One of the biggest events in the life of the Catholic Church in southeast Michigan took place 25 years ago this month, when Bl. John Paul II made a pastoral visit to Detroit.

And despite the passage of a quarter-century, that papal visit of Sept. 18-19, 1987, still lives in the memories of those who participated in the preparations or just attended the various events.