AMERICA/BRAZIL - “John Paul II had the gift of overcoming distances in every sense!” said two missionary Bishops in Brazil originally from Austria

Vienna (Fides Service) - Missionary Bishops of Austrian origin sent a note to Fides in which they recalled Pope John Paul II’s commitment for mission and also their personal meetings with him.
Bishop Erwin Kräutler of Xingu, Brazil said: “He was a very attentive listener. I will always remember what he said to encourage me in my work: “If the Church does not stand by the poor, who will?”. Five years later has he took my hand he said: “Continue to carry your cross!”.
Bishop Richard Webersberger of Barreiras, also in Brazil, wrote: “For humanity Pope John Paul II was a sign of unity. Very often people of the so-called third world have a sense of being inferior, but then came the Pope who showed us that he was “one of us”. He did this among the Indios in Mato Grosso, the slum dwellers, the plantation workers. He had the gift of overcoming distances...in every sense!”. (MS) (Agenzia Fides, 06/04/2005 - 15 righe, 199 parole)