VATICAN CITY, APR 4, 2006 (VIS) - In St. Peter's Square yesterday afternoon, Benedict XVI celebrated a Mass to mark the first anniversary of the death of John Paul II.
Various cardinals concelebrated with the Pope, among them Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, and Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, former secretary to John Paul II and now archbishop of Krakow, Poland.
The event was attended by thousands of faithful from many different countries, the majority from Poland. In his homily, Benedict XVI reminded them how on April 2 last year the late Pontiff, "to whom God gave so many human and spiritual gifts," died. "Passing through the crucible of apostolic labors and of illness, he appeared ever more as a 'rock' in the faith."
The Holy Father continued: "Those who had the opportunity of frequenting him personally were able almost to touch that pure and solid faith which, if it impressed his inner circle of collaborators, did not fail to spread its beneficial influence, during his long pontificate, throughout the Church in a crescendo that reached its peak in the final months and days of his life."
Benedict XVI described his predecessor's "committed, strong and authentic faith, free from fear and compromise," which "touched the hearts of so many people, thanks also to his numerous apostolic pilgrimages all over the world, and especially thanks to that final 'journey' of his agony and death."
After recalling the motto of John Paul II's pontificate "Totus tuus," the Pope highlighted how the Polish Pope's life was "completely oriented towards Christ through Mary."
"This evening," he continued, "our thoughts turn with emotion to the moment of the beloved Pontiff's death, but at the same time it is as if our hearts are compelled to look ahead. We hear, resounding in our hearts, his repeated invitations to advance fearlessly down the road of faithfulness to the Gospel in order to be heralds and witnesses of Christ in the third millennium.
"We remember his incessant exhortations to cooperate generously in creating a more just and united humanity, to be workers for peace and builders of hope."
The Holy Father concluded by saying: "May our gaze always remain fixed upon Christ, 'the same yesterday and today and forever,' Who firmly guides His Church. ... May the strength of Jesus' Spirit be for everyone, as it was for Pope John Paul II, a source of peace and joy."
HML/MASS JOHN PAUL II/... VIS 20060404 (420)
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