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Skriven 2006-04-05 07:19:04 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

LIFE OF JOHN PAUL II: FAITHFULNESS AND DEDICATION

VATICAN CITY, APR 2, 2006 (VIS) - At 8.30 p.m. in St. Peter's Square, thousands
of people, many of them Polish, participated in a moment of prayer and
reflection in memory of John Paul II who died one year ago today.

The event began with readings from various texts by Karol Wojtyla, interspersed
with songs by the choir of the diocese of Rome.

At 9 p.m., Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to preside over the
praying of the Rosary.

Following the Marian prayer, at around 9.37 p.m., the exact moment of John Paul
II's demise, the Pope addressed some words to those present.

Although a year has passed since his death, John Paul II "remains present in
our minds and hearts," said Benedict XVI. "He continues to communicate his love
for God and his love for man. He continues to infuse everyone, especially the
young, with enthusiasm for goodness and courage to follow Jesus and His
teachings."

Addressing the faithful who were gathered in the square below bearing lighted
candles, the Pope summed up John Paul II's "life and evangelical witness" in
two words: "'faithfulness' and 'dedication.' Complete faithfulness to God and
unreserved dedication to his own mission as pastor of the Universal Church.

"Faithfulness and dedication that appeared even more convincing and moving in
his final months, during which he incarnated the words he wrote in his 1984
Apostolic Letter Salvifici doloris: 'Suffering is present in the world in order
to release love, in order to give birth to works of love towards neighbor, in
order to transform the whole of human civilization into a civilization of
love'."

Benedict XVI then highlighted how his predecessor's illness "made everyone more
attentive to human pain, to all physical and spiritual pain; he gave suffering
dignity and value by bearing witness to the fact that man is not worthy for his
efficiency or his appearance, but for himself, because he is created and loved
by God."

Through his words and gestures, "John Paul II never tired of showing the world
that if man allows himself to be embraced by Christ he does not devalue the
richness of his humanity; if he adheres to Christ with all his heart, he does
not lose anything. On the contrary, the encounter with Christ renders our lives
more passionate."

The Holy Father added: "Precisely because he drew ever closer to God in prayer,
contemplation, and love for Truth and Beauty, our beloved Pope was able to
accompany each one of us and to speak authoritatively even to people who are
distant from Christian faith."

On this first anniversary of his death, we are invited "to accept once more the
spiritual heritage he left us," said the Pope. "We are encouraged, among other
things, to live our lives in a tireless search for the Truth, which alone can
satisfy our hearts. We are encouraged not to be afraid to follow Christ, to
bring everyone the announcement of the Gospel, ferment for a more fraternal and
united humanity. From heaven, may John Paul II help us to continue our
journey."

Benedict XVI then addressed Polish faithful who were following the event by
satellite linkup. "The memory of John Paul II remains alive within us," he
said, "and the sense of his spiritual presence does not diminish. For you, may
the memory of the particular love he always nourished for his countrymen be a
light on the path towards Christ: 'Remain strong in the faith'."

From Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, archbishop of that Polish city,
thanked Benedict XVI for his words, adding that John Paul II "is smiling upon
us from heaven."
AC/FAITHFULNESS:DEDICATION/JOHN PAUL II VIS 060403 (620)

SUMMARY

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