Georgetown students, faculty and administrators joined ministers of various faiths Wednesday afternoon in Gaston Hall for a special memorial Mass honoring the life of Pope John Paul II.

University President John J. DeGioia praised the pope’s global presence, his opposition to totalitarian regimes and his “radiant humanity.”

The pope “understood that the human spirit needed freedom and dignity to thrive,” DeGioia said. “We are deeply grateful for the example of his life.”

A wide range of people, including Georgetown area residents, attended the Mass in Gaston Hall, all wishing to remember a pope that, they said, meant so much to so many.

Rev. Brian McDermott, S.J., rector of the Georgetown Jesuit Community, did just that in his homily, praising John Paul II for his global presence and steadfast beliefs.

“His pontificate touched every corner of the globe and every current of thought,” McDermott said. He pointed to the pope’s role in the collapse of communism as an example of his international power.

McDermott also spoke of John Paul’s commitment to his beliefs, regardless of prevailing public opinion, and addressed the pope’s stance on the sanctity of human life.

“He preached the dignity of the human purpose, in season and out of season,” he said.

Much of McDermott’s sermon focused on the pope’s ability to overcome limitations of nationality, race and faith in reaching everyone, everywhere. He said that the pope was able to cross boundaries and touch all of God’s sons and daughters with the love of Christ.

At the conclusion of his homily, McDermott asked those in attendance to pray for the church during this transitional period and said that Catholics should “go into the truth and challenge” of the following words from Christ, “Be not afraid.”

Following Communion, Georgetown campus ministry chaplains offered brief remarks on John Paul’s life and career.

Protestant Minister LaKendra Hardware spoke about the pope’s ability to reach out to people of different faiths, noting that he was the first pope to set foot in a Lutheran church. John Paul was also the first pope to enter a mosque and a synagogue.

She said she hoped that people would learn from the example of his life.

“May we learn from his life, may we learn from his legacy and may we learn from his excellence,” Hardware said.

Muslim Chaplain Imam Yahya Hendi praised John Paul for reaching out to the Muslim community and creating a better relationship between Muslims and Catholics.

The Imam pointed to the pope’s apology to Muslims for the Crusades and the Inquisition, and praised John Paul as an example of the desire to create goodwill between the two faiths.

“The world of Islam has lost a great friend in John Paul II,” Hendi said.

Jewish Chaplain Rabbi Harold White praised John Paul’s ability to connect with members of the Jewish faith.

He cited the pope’s apology to the Jewish people for the Catholic Church’s failure to denounce the Nazis during World War II.

White said he wished that the pope’s life would continue to impact both Jews and Christians.

“May his memory serve as a blessing to us, as well as to the Christian world,” he said.

The mass Wednesday was one of many ways that the Georgetown community is remembering the pope.

On Friday, there will be a series of events honoring the pope’s life and legacy, and a book of remembrance, currently available for signing in Dahlgren Chapel, will be presented to the Vatican’s representative in Washington, D.C., sometime next week.