Pope arrives in St. Louis

Even before the pope's arrival, the St. Louis celebration was well under way. Tens of thousands of young people shouting, "We love you, John Paul!" marched through nearly vacant downtown streets on Tuesday morning.

"It's so incredible to see so many people here," said the Rev. Carlos Montemayor of the La Luz Del Mundo Church in Cicero, Illinois, as he watched the two-mile-long Light of Youth March from the St. Louis Arch to the Papal Plaza at Union Station. "I am so happy to see so many youth people. What a day it will be."

Lines of young people stretched from one leg of the Arch to the other, around the landmark's park to the waterfront, as a steady stream of buses continued dropping people off by the hundreds.

"It's the biggest thing to ever hit St. Louis, even bigger than (St. Louis Cardinals' home run hero Mark) McGwire," said Tony Jercinovic, 18, of Florrisant, Missouri, as someone in the crowd shouted, "Go pope!"

Two other large indoor events are planned for Wednesday: a Mass involving an estimated 96,000 people at the Trans World Dome, home of the St. Louis Rams professional football team, and a prayer service at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica.

Accompanying Clinton in St. Louis is one-time presidential press secretary Jim Brady who, like the pope, survived an assassin's bullet in 1981.

Brady is in Missouri to campaign against a state ballot measure that would legalize carrying concealed guns. About 30 states allow concealed guns. But on April 6, Missouri will become the first state to submit the question to voters.

Proposition B would set up a licensing process to qualify Missourians seeking to pack a hidden firearm.

	The Man Behind the Pope Pictorial Biography Gallery: This Papacy: Images and Vignettes The Pope's Travels: VideoActive Map Quiz: Dynamic Version Regular Version Successors: Interactive Profiles: The Next Pope The Selection Process Legacy: Measuring This Pontiff's Impact Discuss: Message Boards

While opponents of Proposition B would love to persuade the pope to make a public statement of opposition, Brady, who is Catholic, said Monday that he won't impose on the pontiff.

"I think it would be bad form to do that," said Brady, President Reagan's former press secretary and a native of nearby Centralia, Illinois. "I'm sure he has his agenda and I'm sure he'll stick to that."

Within a two-month period in 1981, gunfire from attempted assassins nearly killed both Brady and the pope.

Brady, now 58, was shot in the head when John Hinckley tried to kill Reagan on March 30, 1981. Brady survived, but the injury left him in a wheelchair.

Brady and his wife, Sarah, launched a national campaign to reduce gun violence.

The pope was seriously wounded on May 13, 1981, when he was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca during an appearance in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican attack left the pontiff hospitalized for nearly two months.

Banners welcoming the pontiff to St. Louis hang from buildings and drive-through hamburger spots, even funeral homes. Special papal greeting cloths have been made for visitors to wave along motorcade routes.

By late morning, thousands of people with folding chairs, blankets and strollers had gathered in the city's Central West End, along the route of the first of three scheduled motorcades.

Organizers expect St. Louis, a city of some 400,000 people, to be swamped by as many as 600,000 out-of-towners.

The St. Louis Regional Commerce & Growth Association has estimated that the pope's visit could pump up to $25 million into the local economy. Tourists alone were expected to spend $14 million.

Because of large crowds, police warned St. Louis-area residents who work downtown to either take the day off or use public transportation to avoid long traffic jams, as many downtown exits and roads were closed. Several businesses just shut down for the two days.