TOKYO — It was perhaps the highlight of Army Chaplain's John A. Raymaker's career as a cleric — seeing Pope John Paul II celebrate his first Mass in Japan.

For sure, said the Camp Zama chaplain, it was one of the most emotion-filled moments of his years as a priest.

"He's finally come. Thank God," Raymaker said he thought to himself at the service in St. Mary's Cathedral, where the pontiff met with Catholic clergy from all over Japan.

Raymaker wasn't alone in being filled with emotion over John Paul's presence, he said.

"THERE was a palpable feeling, especially among the sisters, and real warmth for the man," Ray maker said. "The pope is the center of unity for the church and his own personality makes that more appreciable.

"A lot of people may disagree with some of his views, but they respond to his person. They know he is a man who cares."

Raymaker said the encounter will be the topic of his next Sunday service.

The Catholic chaplain from another Kanto Plain military base, Atsugi NAF, also plans to tell of his first meeting with a pope.

Lt. Cdr. J. Williams Hines said he'll tell his congregation at Mass Wednesday that he "has truly seen a sign of the unity of the church throughout the world."

HINES SAID he was affected by the pontiff's "sense of joy." In the midst of very bad weather, a mixture of snow and rain, the pope seemed to relish meeting the 1,500 Catholic clergy, Hines said.

"He proceeded into this very modern church and met priests and sisters, and had a great sense of joy on his face," Hines said. "I wish I knew the word to describe his effect on the audience — just overwhelming."

Many of those in the cathedral were missionaries, evangelists dedicated to introducing Catholicism to this country of 117 million, 99 percent of them Buddhist and Shintoist.

Lt. Col. Andrew D. Hadalski, Catholic chaplain at Yokota AB said the pope's message "seemed to be a confirmation of all the trials and tribulations they (missionaries) had undergone — telling them 'a job well done.' "

OUTSIDE the Tokyo cathedral, hundreds of Japanese and foreigners braved freezing rain and snow to catch a glimpse of John Paul. They broke out in cheers, calling "Via El Papa," (long live the pope), as his limousine, following seven motorcycle police, pulled into view before he celebrated the Mass.

As he has done in every country he has visited since becoming pope, John Paul addressed the crowd in their language.

The pope also met lay leaders of the church, telling them that although the church in Japan is small in number, it could have great spiritual authority.

"All over the country there now exist fervent Christian communities . .. The witness which the Christians give by their lives make the Gospel message credible in present-day Japan," the pope said.

JOHN PAUL had a tearful meeting with 86-year-old Brother Zeno, a Polish Franciscan who has spent 50 years in Japan helping the poor.

"The holy father came to Brother Zeno," the pope said. "Here is the pope. The pope from Poland came to you."

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Marines, sailors to hear John Paul

IWAKUNI MCAS, Japan — Hundreds of Iwakuni residents plan to travel Wednesday to Hiroshima, site of one of the two World War II atomic bombings, to see Pope John Paul II, whose agenda will include a speech against the use of nuclear weapons, an Iwakuni chaplain said.

Cmdr. Jerry O'Connor said the speech will occur at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which was dedicated to the memory of those who died in the bomb blast. Iwakuni is 40 miles from Hiroshima.

Meanwhile, the chaplain's office at Sasebo NB, near Nagasaki, said 78 of the installation's 600 personnel will hear the pope speak at Nagasaki's Matsuyama Athletic Field after his Hiroshima visit. Nagasaki is the other atomic bombing site.

O'Connor said the pope has been invited to Iwakuni — "just as a courtesy call to the Americans here in this part of Japan." There was no indication Tuesday of whether the pontiff would accept the invitation.