AFRICA/EGYPT - “A Pope who will never be forgotten”, according to Cairo daily Al Arabi Ahram

Cairo (Fides Service) - The Cairo daily Al Arabi Ahram has given ample space to the death and the life of Pope John Paul II. In today’s edition it refers to the late Pope as a “hero”, a man who helped end the cold war and bring down the Berlin Wall. In two articles “John Paul II Heroof the Cold War” and “the Mystery of Holiness”, the Arab newspaper, one of the most widely read in Egypt, devotes two whole pages to the Pope’s life and great achievements.
On the years of his pontificate the newspaper underlines the humility with which John Paul II requested forgiveness for the sins committed by the “sons and daughters of the Church” with regard to the Jews. It recalls the Holy Father’s spiritual battle for life and against abortion and war. Referring to the last years of the Pope’s life the paper says that despite his sickness and weakness, he never failed to reach people’s hearts, concluding that John Paul II imprinted our day “a charisma” which will never be forgotten. (AE) (Agenzia Fides 11/4/2005 righe 13 parole 198).