As the world awaited word of Pope John Paul's imminent death, many area Catholics spent Friday praying for the pontiff's soul.

As word of his kidney failure and labored breathing spread, church doors in Southeast Missouri were open so people could gather to pray. At St. Vincent de Paul Church in Cape Girardeau people gathered for a special evening prayer service.

Karolina Czechowka and Michal Piwonsli, both from Poland, had been seeking out a church where they could offer prayers.

"It's a little more significant because we're from Poland," Piwonsli said.

Pope John Paul is a native Pole and the first non-Italian pontiff to be chosen in 455 years.

Piwonsli said it would be nice "to be closer geographically but no matter where you are you can pray for him."

About 50 people gathered at St. Vincent's for a 30-minute prayer service. An ecumenical service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary's Cathedral.

"When you don't know what else to do, then you turn to prayer," said the Rev. Charlie Prost, a priest at St. Vincent's.

The pope's illness put many people in an awkward state as they awaited news of his condition. Some prayed for his health to rebound. Others offered prayer for a peaceful passing.

Their greatest desire was simply to find information about his condition, Prost said.

"It's like any sick relative or friend," he said. "They just want to know how he is. As Catholics, we feel united in the body of Christ."

And the majority knew death was inevitable. The pope has been ill since mid-February with the flu. He was hospitalized twice and began receiving nutrition through a feeding tube Wednesday. He also suffers from Parkinson's disease, which is a degenerative nerve disorder that causes tremors.

"He's not been expected to live much longer," Prost said.

Prayers offered during the afternoon were for mercy and grace as the pope passed away.

Glen Grojean came to the church specifically to pray for John Paul. "What touched me was praying for the passing of his soul into eternal life," he said. "And for God to have mercy on him and on us."

Catholics mention the pope and Bishop John J. Leibrecht of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese routinely during Mass, and Friday was no different.

Debra Enderle said the whole situation "is surreal for me. He's just always been there -- all my life."

She said the pontiff had been in her thoughts and prayers throughout the day. "It's just weird to think that he might be dying."

Students at St. Mary Cathedral School prayed for the pope during the all-school Mass Friday morning.

The Rev. Patrick Nwokoye said students wanted to know if the pontiff would recover.

"I wish I could tell them yes, but I cannot," he said. Because the day had been so emotional, he wasn't able to convey all his words to the students.

"The fact that I'd seen him as a young pope up to the point when he was beginning to age, and in that aging he has been teaching people the dignity of human life."

Nwokoye said the pontiff's imminent death helps people better understand the process of dying. "It's a journey that he's taking us all on. And that journey of life is that no matter what, it's still precious and you have to courageously hand it over to the creator."

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126