The Catholic Morning Show

Standing Behind the Pope: A Seminarian's Memory of St. John Paul II at Living History Farms – Fr. Greg Leach – 10/22/2026

Episode Summary

On the memorial of St. John Paul II, retired Des Moines priest Fr. Greg Leach recalls the 1979 papal Mass at Living History Farms, where a last-minute change put him right behind the Pope, and reflects on what that day taught him about the universal Church.

Episode Notes

Forty-seven years after St. John Paul II celebrated Mass on a hillside at Living History Farms, Fr. Greg Leach, a retired priest of the Diocese of Des Moines, shares his story.

Fr. Leach discusses:

• His assignment that day: as a seminarian, he rehearsed carrying the papal staff up and down the steps, until a Vatican master of ceremonies placed him directly behind the Pope, landing him in photos he never expected (with his sunglasses on)
• (Photo credit Des Moines Register)
• The moment the clouds opened and the papal helicopter descended over a crowd the size of the metro area
• A Pope newly elected: John Paul II was chosen while Fr. Leach was in the seminary
• The lasting lesson: we are part of something much bigger than the local church, and he is a priest for the people of God
• A parting joke about tennis players and love

Afterward, Deacon Mark Campbell and Brian Egan share their own family memories of the Pope's 1979 visit, from photos at Living History Farms to a blurry snapshot outside the papal residence in Washington, D.C.

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