Pope John Paul II's 1999 St. Louis Trip

WEB EXTRA: St. Louis welcomes Pope John Paul II (1/27/1999)

Pope John Paul II told thousands of his "young friends" that they are the light of the world and urged them to "train yourself for devotion."

The pontiff was met with wild cheers by more than 20,000 teen-agers and their chaperones who waved yellow and white scarves at an evening prayer service at the Kiel Center.

The pope spoke to the crowd like a kindly, tolerant and sometimes forceful grandfather.

Beneath banners celebrating the rough-and-tumble sports of hockey, basketball and soccer, the pontiff invoked a sports theme to deliver his message.

"We are here in the Kiel Center where many people train long and hard in order to compete in different sports. Today, this impressive stadium has become another kind of training ground -- not for hockey or soccer or baseball or basketball, but for that training that will help you live your faith in Jesus more decisively."

An avid sportsman in his younger days, the pontiff was presented with a hockey stick and a Blues jersey with John Paul II and the number one on its back, along with a bishop's mitre -- the pointed ceremonial hat worn during Mass.

"So I am prepared to return once more to play hockey," the pope joked.

The pontiff's homily was interrupted often by cheers, applause and shouts of "Viva la Papa" and "We love you, John Paul II."