Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “On April 2 last year, a year ago today, our beloved Pope John Paul II was living the last stage of his earthly pilgrimage of faith, love and hope which left a profound mark on the history of the Church and humanity” Pope Benedict XVI said in his midday Angelus reflection on Sunday 2 April. Addressing thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square the Pope recalled the last days of the earthly life of John Paul II and the silent Easter Blessing Urbi et Orbi given only with his hand: “he died as he had lived, fired by the unswerving courage of the faith, putting himself entirely in the hands of God and entrusting himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary”.
“What heritage have we received from this great Pope who led the Church into the third millennium?” Benedict XVI asked himself. “His legacy is immense, but the message of his very long pontificate can be effectively summarised in a few words, the words with which he started it here in St Peter’s Square on 22 October 1978: ‘Open, indeed, open wide the doors for Christ!’. This unforgettable call was lived by John Paul II in his person and in his mission as Successor of Peter”. Especially when he visited the countries of the world, meeting crowds of people, church communities, governors, religious leaders and different social realities, “it was as if he was making one great gesture confirming those opening words. He announced Christ always, proposing Him to everyone as Vatican II had done, as the answer to human expectations, expectations for freedom, justice and peace. Christ is the Redeemer of man - he was fond of saying -, the only authentic Saviour for every person and for the entire human race …the Pope’s death was the culmination of a coherent witness of faith which touched the hearts of countless men and women of good will.”
After the Marian prayer Pope Benedict XVI urged those present to join Iraqi Bishops (see Fides 27/3/2006) to pray for peace in Iraq and in the rest of the world “The Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, His Beatitude Emmanuel III Delly, and the Bishops of Iraq have called on Christians, all believers and all men and women of good will to join them on the 3rd and 4th April, tomorrow and the day after, to pray and fast to ask God for the gift of peace and harmony in Iraq and the whole world. I urge you all to join in this initiative of our brothers in that martyred country, entrusting this intention to the intercession of Most Holy Mary, Queen of Peace.” In Italian the Pope recalled the tragic conclusion of the kidnapping of 18 month old baby Tommaso, calling everyone to pray: “We are all deeply shocked at the story of little Tommaso barbarously murdered: we pray for him and for all victims of violence”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 3/4/2006 - righe 33, parole 488)
