Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guadalajara (Fides Service) - In 1979 when he made the first of his five visits to this country, the Popewent straight to the hearts of the Mexican people and there he will remain forever, Fr. Francisco González of the archdiocese of Guadalajara told Fides.
“He won hearts with his person. And in exchange with simplicity and fervour our people supported him all during his pain and suffering. All Mexicans know John Paul II. All have his picture, or some souvenir of the Holy Father. The Pope is in every home. The Pope is Mexican, as he once said. And Mexico will be his forever.
“In Mexico since his death these are days of grief and profound prayer: churches are crowded as if it were Sunday. People stand in the aisles, some hold pictures of the Pope, nearly all cry as they remember him and pray” Fr. González told Fides.
A statue of the Pope has been erected in front of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, so loved by John Paul II. “In an endless stream people bring lighted candles and flowers and stand to sing in front of the statue”.
The Pope won the hearts of Mexicans “because he was a man of faith, a person totally devoted to Christ and Mary, but also a very human person with great knowledge of humanity and the world, and above all a great Shepherd to his flock”.
Fr. Gonzalez explains why Mexicans feel so close to John Paul II: “Since his youth Karol was a fighter. His struggle, his suffering was intense but he knew how to tackle it. He was a man of faith through and through, a universal Pope, a fighting Pope. We can say of him, like St Paul: . He always blessed us so generously and now he receives his reward from God.” (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 6/4/2005)
