ASIA/CHINA - “Why are you crying? Our great father has gone to heaven”

Beijing (Fides Service) - Catholic boys and girls in China are using the Internet to exchange messages and share their love for Pope John Paul II via a web site http://www.shangzhi.org/mdata/index.asp. In a message signed with a cartoon code name, one 14 year old boy wrote to his friends: “I had hoped to meet the Pope when I grow up. I am sad that our great father has passed away. I would like to take that olive branch he waved on Palm Sunday and wave it to the whole world. This morning in church the soloist broke into tears, my mother was crying, the priest’s voice broke several times and his eyes were filled with tears. Everyone stayed after mass to pray. “They are praying for the Pope” my mother said. “But they need not be sad - I told her - our great father is now in heaven?”.
(Agenzia Fides 5/04/2005 Righe: 16 Parole: 132)