By: Diana Johnsen
djohnsen@kcautv.com
He will be missed.
For Siouxlanders, it's a sentimental time as Pope Benedict XVI steps down from his position.
"He very much speaks to people at the level of which they are. There's always a short supply of that in the world and we'll miss it tremendously," said Bill Mangan of Sioux City.
On Wednesday, the Pope gave his final public farewell at the Vatican and gave what some said was an "unusual but personal message".
Saying things like there had been "many days of sunshine" but also "times when the water was rough…"
It's this honesty that Father William Vit of Sioux City's Cathedral of the Epiphany said reflects the job.
"Well it reflects the nature of the position. Being the Holy Father of a universal church is going to come with a lot of heartache and headache."
Father Vit said he was in Saint Peter's Square when the Pope was elected in 2005.
He said it was an exciting time then and still is now but with a few differences.
"It's exciting today because we're obviously going to have a new Holy Father but it's not accompanied with the mourning and grief of losing one. He can retire, he can continue to write and work. You don't have that mourning," said Father Vit.
The Pope's official last day of work will be Thursday.
The Cathedral of the Epiphany will be having a farewell service for the Pope Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.
