EUROPE/AUSTRIA - National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Austria recalls Pope John Paul II’s great “human warmth” and ability to establish a profound relationship even in the briefest of meetings

Vienna (Fides Service) - The National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Austria, Rev. Fr. Leo Maasburg sent a statement to Fides in which he recalls especially Pope John Paul II’s “human warmth”. “Once I had the joy of accompanying a little girl suffering from cancer to the Pope’s private Mass. After the mass the Pope stopped for some time to talk with her and among other things he told her: ‘Your smile is for me a sign of God’s presence in you”. The little girl treasured these words of the Holy Father. They accompanied her all through her illness and were on her lips when she died. On many other occasions I witnessed how Pope John Paul II was able to establish a deep relationship even in the briefest of encounters, always saying something essential”. (MS) (Agenzia Fides, 06/04/2005 - 11 righe, 141 parole)