BY GRETCHEN KEISER

Rome -- Pilgrims from Atlanta joined thousands of like-minded people from every corner of the world at St. Peter's Basilica June 29.

They came to see "the Holy Father," to witness the celebration of Mass on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and the giving of the pallium to metropolitan archbishops installed in the last year.

Early in the morning the square was sunny and hurrying people flocked to get a seat for the Mass bringing Pope John Paul II back into a full public celebration for the first time since his fall and hip surgery.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue was one of 20 archbishops able to come to Rome to receive the pallium, a white wool vestment that symbolizes the unity of the archbishops with the bishop of Rome and the authority they share under his leadership.

While four of the archbishops came from the United States, six were from Nigeria, and a total of six from Mexico, Central and Latin America. Archbishops from Pakistan, the Dominican Republic and Hanoi, Vietnam also received pallia.

Vested in red, as was the Pope, the archbishops encircled the altar, which was banked in red and white flowers. The container with the pallia was brought up from the tomb of St. Peter beneath the altar where it is placed on the vigil of the feast.

The Pope blessed the palia and individually placed one on each archbishop as he knelt in turn before the Pope’s stair at the main altar of the basilica.

Thousands of people were seated on folding chairs arranged in the normally open space of the world's largest Christian church, while thousands more who could not be seated stood along waist-high barricades and joined in the two and a half hour Mass.

When the Pope enter the basilica waves of applause and the progressive series of flushing camera lights signaled the procession’s movement down the aisle. The Pope’s voice sounded steady and strong as he spoke the prayers of the Mass and gave his homily in Italian. He served as the main celebrant of the Mass.

Yet his appearance struck several in the Atlanta group as burdened. Startled by his thin and bent stature, Mary Catherine Luedtke of Atlanta was moved to tears. "He looks so burdened, I think he feels the suffering of the people," said Mrs. Luedtke, an attorney. Janet Marsden, a teacher, found the pope’s posture Christ-like. "It's almost like he carries the cross."

Music at times was ethereal as the voices of a boy choir filled the vast guilt and blue dome with delicate, rich sound. The Mass music was by Palestrina, a composer being honored on the 400 the anniversary of his death.

By contrast the prayer of the faithful reminded everyone of the recent massacre in the African nation of Rwanda of archbishops, bishops, priests, men and women religious and lay Catholics.

Within the church clerical garb distinguished cardinals, bishops, priests and Orthodox, while many lay people wore native dress from a variety of cultures.

Because of the seniority of his appointment as archbishop of Atlanta last spring, Archbishop Donoghue was the last of the 20 to receive the pallium and was one of four concelebrants at the Mass, standing at the Pope's side and offering one of the eucharistic prayers in Latin.

In addition to about 40 people who came from the archdiocese to be with the archbishop, Atlanta was represented at the Mass by three seminarians studying at the North American College in Rome. Mark Lacey carried the processional cross, Hoa Tran was book-bearer and John Anderson read the prayers of the faithful given in English, while others were read in German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish.

Afterward the college hosted a reception at lunch for all the Americans visiting with archbishops. Gathered in the courtyard where Archbishop Justin Rigali of St. Louis, Archbishop James Keleher of Kansas City, Kan., Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Archbishop Donoghue.

Like many who accompanied him, the archbishop found it difficult to describe his profound reaction to the papal Mass. "It is more than you ever expect," He said. "Just to be in The Holy Father's presence, to concelebrate Mass with him. And it exemplifies your unity with him. I found it to be a tremendous experience. There's hardly any way to describe it."

"I think the whole trip has been a marvelous experience," he added. "To have people here from the archdiocese has been wonderful."

The pallium which he will wear on major occasions, and only in the Atlanta Province of Georgia, North and South Carolina, symbolizes the portion of authority he has through the successor to St. Peter, and "it signifies the unity of the whole Church throughout the world," the archbishop said.

Universality struck several from the archdiocese at St. Peter's. "I was impressed with all the black archbishops who were there," said Lloyd Bird.

"I have some difficulty understanding the ornate," said Christ Our Hope parishioner Gladys Hernandez. "Our own (parish) church is so simple. And yet, I think, generation after generation of people are passing through (St. Peter's). All the people there this morning, all the people who have been there over time. Year after year after year, century after century, it is there.

"This morning I was kind of overwhelmed," she continued. Maybe sometimes we overbuild, but this morning it didn't matter. "

The retired psychiatrist, a Cuban native, came because she struck up a friendship with the Archbishop Donoghue in the rectory kitchen when he visited her Lithonia parish. "I think it has been a very special blessing," she said. "Our parish has been special to him and he is very special to us."

Gerald Hickey, a permanent deacon in a Charlotte, N. C., parish of 1200 families, has gone on pilgrimages with the archbishop and brought to Rome his regard for the Pope and the suffering of the people he ministers to.

At the Mass he prayed for the sick in his parish, for those who have died, including his own daughter. The Mass gave him a sense wonderment. "You are in the center of Christendom. Here is an office that goes back two thousand years. Here is a man carrying a great burden."

Mrs. Luedtke likened the sense of unity she experienced to "coming home." In the midst of people from many places, speaking many languages, she and others felt a heightened awareness of unity. "There's a connection among us, we are brothers and sisters," she said. She felt the nearness of beloved people, living and dead.

"I think it is the most moving experience in my life."

Several people experienced a moment of change, letting go of a doubt about their faith or about teachings they struggle with. A few simply had no words for their feelings. "What a gift the Pope is." Said Elizabeth Bird.

"I think it has given us a real sense of the universality of the Church, and the unity of the Church, and the roots of the Church,” said Daniel Donoghue, one of the archbishop’s brothers.

"To see the Pope in person is a great privilege. It is an opportunity that doesn't come to many people."

Keri Allen, from the Cathedral of Christ the King, was struck by the opportunity to be with archbishop Donoghue in Rome. "There's something about being led by someone you respect and that you feel is a shepherd. He has been so much fun, and so down to earth and so approachable."

The enormous impact of the Pope, “he was bigger than life," and the magnitude of his burden also lingered in mind. “When I think of how I get overwhelmed with the few little things I do, he has the burden of the whole Church of the whole world, I just can't imagine it."

"I certainly will pray for him more."