KALAUPAPA, Moloka'i — It rained here yesterday morning. But when the plane carrying the pope's ambassador to the United States arrived, the sun came out and a lovely rainbow appeared.

Was it a sign? The handful of people waiting at Kalaupapa Airport sure hoped so.

In fact, the buzz on this remote peninsula yesterday was that the visit by the U.S. papal nuncio, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo — a man who has a direct line to the Holy Father — might help create further momentum for the sainthood causes of Damien de Veuster and Marianne Cope.

"He's coming here to see it for himself. He could be a big help," said patient Gloria Marks.

Montalvo was accompanied on his sojourn by Allen Vigneron, the bishop of Oakland, both of whom attended the installation of Hawai'i's new bishop, Clarence "Larry" Silva, on Thursday.

Yesterday's journey was a sightseeing trip to a place where Catholics — Father Damien and Mother Marianne — are famous for bringing aid and hope to the Hansen's disease patients who were isolated as the kingdom, and subsequently, the territory of Hawai'i tried to control a feared disease in the late 1800s.

Today, there are fewer than 30 patients who live in the settlement, ranging in age from 64 to the 90s.

During their daylong visit, Montalvo and Vigneron said Mass at St. Philomena Church, at the original Kalawao settlement. They visited St. Francis Church in Kalaupapa, and prayed at the original graves of Father Damien and Mother Marianne.

Father Lane Akiona, pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Honolulu, was asked by St. Francis' pastor, Father Joseph Hendricks, to help host the dignitaries, and he said he was honored.

"Damien welcomed everyone," Akiona said. "In the same spirit, I welcome the opportunity to share the story and legacy of this sacred place."

Akiona, born and raised on the topside of Moloka'i, also hosted Silva at Kalaupapa right after his appointment as bishop of Honolulu was revealed in May. Silva met Akiona at Kalaupapa just two days after the May 17 announcement.

"He wanted to pray and invoke the saints to help him in his reflection," Akiona said.

Akiona said visits by Silva, a strong Damien supporter, and the prominent church officials yesterday are hopeful signs that Damien's path to sainthood may become a little smoother. Damien's cause, he said, seemed to stall over the past year while the Honolulu diocese was absent a leader.

He said yesterday's visit also shows the National Park Service, which operates Kalaupapa National Historical Park, that the Catholic Church is very interested in having a say about what happens to Kalaupapa in the future.

What did the archbishop think?

He decline to talk, explaining that if he offered interviews to one member of the press, he would have to talk to them all. That would take too much of his time, Montalvo said.

The patients, meanwhile, said they were optimistic Montalvo was impressed during his visit.

"I hope he talks to the Holy Father and gives him the message of Father Damien," said patient Meli Watanuki. "And I hope (Damien's canonization) can happen soon. I feel for the old folks who have been waiting so long."

Ku'ulei Bell, the postmaster of Kalaupapa, isn't Catholic, but she came out to see the papal nuncio and the bishop, anyway.

"This is something special," Bell said. "Everyone was so excited when they said they were coming. You know, this kind of thing only happens once in a million years."