30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit, mass at Silverdome

Today, September 19, 2017, marks 30 years to the day since St. Pope John Paul II held mass at the Silverdome.

It was an impressive site as the pope entered the fully packed stadium. That's because the tens of thousands of people in attendance did not cheer. Instead, they just clapped, whispered or otherwise remained silent as a way to honor his holiness.

You can see footage from that day in the video player above.

St. Pope John Paul II died in 2005. He was canonized as a saint by the church in 2014.

The anniversary of his Michigan visit is now a poignant memory. Within weeks, the power and other utilities will be disconnected -- and demolition contractors will begin to tear down the now-abandoned Silverdome.

The Lions played in Pontiac from 1975 through 2001. It was also the home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons and hosted the Super Bowl in 1982.

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