``We can't envision another pope,'' said Philip Johnston, 22, of St. Petersburg, who with wife Catherine Johnston had their daughter, Mariana, baptized before a solemn congregation in the Gulfport church.

Despite their sorrow, they spoke of ``a new era'' for their daughter.

Elsewhere in the Tampa Bay area, old friends linked arms and sat on a stone bench outside a St. Petersburg church, discussing how hard it will be to replace Pope John Paul II and agreeing the world would surely suffer without someone as inspiring.

Priests celebrated the Sunday feast of the Divine Mercy, coming a week after Easter, and spoke of ``broken hearts'' but asked parishioners to remember that John Paul II was ``born into eternal life.''

``He leaves an empty space in this world, not just the church,'' said the Rev. Craig Morley of the Cathedral Church of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg. ``Yes, he will surely be missed.''

Sunday began as the first official day of nine days of mourning for John Paul II, who died Saturday in his Vatican apartment.

As people entered churches with heads bowed, they genuflected before photos or bronze busts of the pope.

Some cried.

``We've all lost someone,'' said Debra Petersen, 58, of St. Petersburg, an Episcopalian, who attended services at the cathedral.

Parishioners and priests spoke of the pope's charisma, his connection with youth, his impact on world events.

``And if we were not impressed, then we've had our eyes closed,'' Monsignor Frank Mouch of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in New Tampa said of the pope. ``He spoke boldly, and he reached out to people in such a way that they had to like him.''

Soon, 117 cardinals will gather in Rome to elect a new pope, a task few in the Bay area envied.

Many said they would want the new pope to have the same vibrancy as John Paul II, someone who transcended religious boundaries and reached out to those of other faiths.

Some pointed to the pope's skill in world affairs, and said a new leader must share the same diplomacy.

``We need people like the pope who can guide us through these times, someone who can reach out to everybody,'' said Pamela Campbell, 51, of St. Petersburg, who talked about John Paul II with her friend, Jean Nevels, 78, of St. Petersburg, outside St. Jude Cathedral.

The Rev. Ken Slattery, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Parish in New Port Richey, discussed the selection of a new pope between the 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Masses.

``I could give you a million practical qualities in choosing the next pope,'' said Slattery, 50, ``but above all else is the need for a truly holy man, one who can show Christ in his life. Do that, and the rest falls into place.''

Young Catholics spoke of John Paul II as the only pontiff they knew.

Morley of St. Jude Cathedral said when he was a young boy during the reign of a previous pope, he heard little about the leader of the Catholic Church. That is not true with John Paul II.

``Now, everybody in the world knows what this man looked like,'' Morley said.

Few priests spoke of Terri Schiavo, whose death came two days before the pope's. Most offered up a prayer to the woman, whose plight attracted the attention of the world and spawned debates over end-of- life issues. Schiavo died 13 days after her feeding tube was removed.

Before celebrating Sunday Mass, the Rev. Bill Swengros, pastor of Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Gulfport, said the deaths of Schiavo and of John Paul II serve as ``bookends'' to the belief that ``all life has dignity.''

Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, attend Most Holy Name of Jesus, where a memorial service will be held Tuesday.

Reporters Steve Kornacki and Julie Pace and Tribune editor Mary McCoy contributed to this report. Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (727) 451-2332.