Anchorage, Alaska: Holy Family Cathedral

Tourists usually don't create much of a stir when they come to a town. Pope John Paul II was an exception.

His visit to Anchorage obviously was big news at the time. It attracted an estimated 65,000 people from all over the region when it happened in 1981.

During his visit to the Holy Family Cathedral in downtown Anchorage, the Pope talked privately with several disabled individuals.

The church put up a plaque on its front wall to mark the occasion. As of this writing, Pope John Paul II is on his way to sainthood status. That will make his visit even more special down the road.

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