Catholics Told To Open Their Hearts To Pope -- Leader Of Priests' Movement Applauded

The founder of a worldwide priests' movement has called upon Western Washington Catholics to unite behind Pope John Paul II and to "close your ears" to criticism of the pontiff.

The Rev. Stefano Gobbi of Milan, Italy, drew thunderous applause in Seattle last night as he asked more than 1,000 worshipers jammed into St. Alphonsus Church in Ballard, "Do you love the Pope? Yes or no!"

Gobbi, who is 64, founded the Marian Movement of Priests in 1972 after feeling an interior call to start the movement in response to some priests who he said were trying to organize against church authority.

Some 60,000 priests have joined the movement worldwide, according to organization spokesmen.

Celebrating Mass at St. Alphonsus, Gobbi said humanity is running the risk of destroying itself by its own hands. He said people have turned to the idols of pleasure, entertainment and money.

"You are the children of God. You do not live for this Earth," Gobbi told the worshipers, urging them to obey the laws of God, "flee sin" and to confess when they do sin.

Gobbi said Mary, mother of Christ, was "very sad today" because of division from the pope. He did not specify the criticisms, although in the United States the pope has garnered opposition in some quarters for his stands against abortion, birth control and the ordination of women priests, among other issues.

Gobbi called for prayers for the pope and unity with Seattle Archbishop Thomas Murphy, who was in Washington, D.C., but sent a letter of salutation to Gobbi and the people gathered at St. Alphonsus.

Gobbi made it clear where he stood on some issues, calling abortion "accursed," divorce a trial for the family, and eliciting broad applause by declaring, "I am a priest. I don't want to become a woman," indicating women should not want to become priests.

While naming no names, Gobbi told the crowd, "If you hear a priest who speaks against the pope, do not judge him, pray for him, but don't do what he says."

Gobbi made no reference to speculation about the pope's health following the postponement of a papal visit to the United States originally scheduled for next month.

The Vatican has said the pope needed time to fully recuperate from a bathroom fall in April in which he broke his leg at the hip.

But recent news reports have described the 74-year-old pope as frail and speculated he is in worse health than disclosed.

Gobbi invited the worshipers at St. Alphonsus to send their guardian angels to the pope.

The priest imagined more than 1,000 angels bringing the pope the prayers of the St. Alphonsus assembly. But then he recalled that while it was early evening in Seattle, it was 3 a.m. at the Vatican.

So Gobbi imagined the pope waking up and hearing heavenly music. "Where is this coming from?" he asks. From Seattle, he's told. He then happily goes back to sleep.