On the second anniversary of the canonization of the “people’s pope,” follow the steps of St. John Paul II in Brooklyn and Queens. He visited the diocese three times, once in 1969 before he became pope. During that visit he celebrated Mass at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Greenpoint, and stayed overnight at the rectory of Holy Cross Church in Maspeth. Currents Correspondent Katie Breidenbach speaks with two people who interacted with him during that visit, including Fr. Joseph Szpilski. As a young seminarian in Poland, Fr. Szpilski was also taught by St. John Paul II.