EUROPE/GERMANY - Pope John Paul II: His fatherhood knew no bounds…He valued each culture and knew how to raise them up. He benevolently denounced their errors and pointed out their dangers: Tribute from Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement

Schöenstatt (Fides Service) - “In grateful memory” is the title of a tribute in which the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement recalls the person and the pontificate of John Paul II, underlining aspects of his person and pontificate and renewing the Movement’s commitment to work to make his legacy bear fruit: “His appraisal of the Church movements as fruits of the Spirit and the Springtime of Church calls us to keep alive our unique charisma and to place it at the service of all the ecclesiastic community.”
The tribute, signed by Father Heinrich Walter, President of the General Presidium of the International Schoenstatt Work recalls that John Paul II was a man of prayer and contemplation, a man of the Eucharist and a living sign of God’s presence among us. “Doctrine was alive in him and truth was personified in him. This gave him an undeniable moral authority that surpassed the limits of the Catholic Church and established him as a true leader of humanity beyond the many racial, political or religious differences. The consistency of his teaching and personal testimony is also the key to understanding the mutual empathy, affection, and profound understanding between the Holy Father and the youth...Even when ill and weak, he was unwavering in his willing service and went forth to seek others, especially the poorest and most needy. He is Father because he did not cause differences nor did he allow himself to be taken in by opportunism and conveniences. He valued each culture and knew how to raise them up. He benevolently denounced their errors and pointed out their dangers. In all of these many ways, he showed us that his fatherhood knew no bounds.”.
The Pope “had an intuitive grasp of the signs of the Holy Spirit’s action in hearts and communities and he was a great teacher of the Gospel. Firm and clear in announcing the truth, he above all tirelessly sowed and creatively promoted numerous initiatives to effectively represent that truth and appropriately transmit it according to the sensitivity of man and the contemporary cultures. He knew well that faith is a life long process and that it requires the accompaniment of patience, willingness to dialogue, truth and respect”. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 16/4/2005; righe 28, parole 384)