Although they are generations apart, the spiritual head of the 1 billion-member denomination and the host of a teen-driven rock show on a Tampa Catholic radio station have a lot in common: They share a church, a faith, God.

The pope used those bonds well to bridge the gap between octogenarian and MTV generation. To many teen and twentysomething Catholics, the pope was a cult hero. Millions attended his World Youth Day festivities, an event he began in 1986 and held every two to three years in locations around the globe.

``He challenged us not to be afraid, to stand up for what we believe and to not give in to temptations,'' said Paff, 26. ``Mainly, he made us feel like we were part of the church and our voice mattered.''

Other Tampa Bay area residents say they, too, felt the pope's hand on their lives.

Some herald his groundbreaking achievements and advancements he made for Catholics on a global level; others wonder whether some of his policies held them back.

``For people under 30, this is the only pope they've ever known,'' said Brother Jerry Meegan, director of youth ministries for the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg.

That statement is true for half the world's population.

``He got out of the politics of the church and talked directly to them,'' Meegan said. ``He challenged them by encouraging them in a fatherly way, not by talking down to them.''

This weekend, Meegan's office is encouraging churches to include youth in services by asking them to share their memories and let them sign sympathy posters. As for the next pope, Meegan says he will have a chance to continue John Paul II's legacy in August at the World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany.

``The pope made young people feel like they were part and parcel of the church, which hadn't been done in a long time,'' he said. ``That welcoming spirit must continue, because this generation is the church of tomorrow.''

Touched By Injustice

Were it not for the pope's personal history, programs such as the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University in St. Leo might not even exist.

Growing up in Poland, he had a circle of Jewish friends, many of whom disappeared during Adolf Hitler's reign. His witness to the Holocaust, during which about 3 million Polish Jews lost their lives, led to his determination to not only reach out to the Jewish community, but to ask for forgiveness.

``He was very public about how we needed to be sensitive to what our Jewish brothers and sisters endured,'' said the Rev. Michael Cooper, a senior religious adviser at the center. ``He went more than halfway to reach out, and they responded.''

Among his demonstrations of support: establishing diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Israel; a visit to Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust Memorial; and a 1998 letter in which the pope commanded Catholics to ``examine themselves on their responsibility which they, too, have for the evils of our time.''

Many historians include Pope John Paul II as a player in the downfall of communism.

Biographer Taz Szulc wrote that the pope had an ``immensely complex and discreet, but crucial role'' in the thawing of East-West relations.

That world change allowed the Rev. Ken Malley, an associate pastor at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Tampa, to pursue a longtime dream.

A Russian linguist for the U.S. Navy before entering the seminary, Malley has been able to travel to Russia three times in recent years. He never thought that would be possible when he studied the language at the University of South Florida.

``His prayers, and all his work behind the scenes, has changed the direction of the world,'' said Malley, 38. ``As a young man, he saw freedom taken away from people and human rights violated. He never forgot that. It's not just Catholics who have been impacted by this pope. It's the world community.''

Malley met the pope four times while in the seminary in Rome.

``He's got this captivating, gentle spirit,'' he said. ``Even though he was older, you could still feel that strength. This is a man completely in touch with God, and he lived his life honoring that.''

Disagreement On Social Issues

On social issues, however, the pope ``leaves a divided church,'' Cooper said.

A decline in vocations led to a dire priest shortage in this country, with up to 25 percent of U.S. parishes facing the prospect of no pastor to lead the flock. Yet Rome seems unwilling to explore solutions, Cooper said.

The pope remained firmly against married clergy and women's ordination, two potential cures. It's likely his successor, chosen by the cardinals installed by the pope, will maintain those views.

The Rev. Pam LeClerc of Riverview decided she did not have the time to wait for the Roman Catholic Church to change its policies.

She was raised in the Byzantine Catholic Church, a denomination that follows the pope, then married a Roman Catholic.

She became a eucharistic minister, calling it a ``supreme joy'' to stand at the altar, assisting the priest with the distribution of Holy Communion.

It wasn't until she got involved in a chaplaincy program that she learned the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick could be done only by a priest.

``My experiences as a chaplain were spiritually rewarding, but I was disappointed and frustrated that Rome had tied my hands from full ministry,'' LeClerc says. ``In fact, Rome wouldn't even discuss women's ordination. They still will not. Gee, I thought everything could be discussed in 2005.''

LeClerc chose to follow her heart, but it meant leaving her church. She is now an ordained priest in the Old Catholic Church, not recognized by Rome.

She said the denomination adheres to the original standards of the Catholic Church. Among its differences: Women can fully participate in ministry, all Christians are welcome to partake in Holy Communion, and birth control is an issue between God and the husband and wife.

She believes now is the time for the Roman Catholic Church to re-examine some of its stands.

``Now is better than never,'' LeClerc said. ``I pray for the pope and the Roman Catholic Church. I pray that one day, the whole body of Christ will put aside their differences and remember that God loved them so much, and he gave them his only son to pay for their sins.''

Reporter Michelle Bearden can be reached at (813) 259-7613.