MASS FOR DECEASED CARDINALS, ARCHBISHOPS AND BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 6, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father presided this morning in the Vatican Basilica over the Eucharistic concelebration for the repose of the souls of the cardinals, archbishops and bishops who have died during the year.

In his homily, the Pope affirmed that "Christ, though the Cross, gave a new meaning also to death. In Him, in fact, it became a sublime gesture of obedient love towards the Father and a supreme witness of a love in solidarity with men. Therefore, considered in the light of the Easter mystery, even the outcome of human existence no longer seems a condemnation without appeal, but the passage to full and definitive life, which coincides with perfect communion with God."

"In the communion, real and mysterious, between the pilgrim Church on earth and the Church triumphant, we are their neighbors in affection, in the certainty that (our deceased brethren) will continue to spiritually accompany the journey of the Christian community."

John Paul II recalled in a special way deceased Cardinals Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky, Giuseppe Casoria, Jose Ali Lebrun Moratinos, Pierre Eyt, Thomas Joseph Winning, Silvio Oddio, Giuseppe Maria Sensi, and Patriarch Maximos V Hakim. "Together with them, in this celebration we wish to remember also all the archbishops and bishops who have passed away in the past months. These our dear and venerated brothers in the episcopate are now with God, after having spent their existence in the service of the cause of the Gospel and the good of their brothers."

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