AMERICA/PERU - "Humanity - and not only the 21st century - has lost one of its greatest men. A man who dazzled the world with his teaching and who will continue to enlighten us"

Lima (Fides Service) - "The Bishops of Peru encourage Catholics to thank God for the gift of the life of the Holy Father, a priest, the Bishop of Rome and the Vicar of Christ on earth, at the service of humanity": this was part of a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops of Peru after the death of Pope John Paul II. The Bishops recall when the Vicar of Christ kissed Peruvian soil and visited some of the remotest parts of the country, the forest region in particular, when he said words that remain impressed on hearts: “The Pope is Charapa” (the name of the people who live in the forest).
In his homily during a Requiem Mass in Lima Cathedral on 5 April the president of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference Bishop Hugo Garaycoa Hawkins said: "Humanity - not only the 21st century - has lost one of its greatest men". "It is difficult not only to follow his teaching but also his energy, all those journeys, his concern for every individual person... which was not a formality it was genuine warmth". He described the Pope as a saintly man: "a saint for us, a man of flesh and blood who followed the example of Christ. He dazzled the world with his teaching and will continue to enlighten us". Papal Nuncio Archbishop Rino Passigato was among the concelebrants. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 6/4/2005, righe 18; parole 276)