Nachrichten - News - Noticias
 published: 2005-04-12

The Inheritance has become a mission

The Pope rests in peace. Multitudinous ovation at the Pope's farewell

Viernes, 8 de abril, Misa en Roma... San Pedro, y más allá

Friday, April 8, Mass in Rome, St. Peter’s, and beyond

Freitag, 8. April, Messe in Rom, Petersplatz, und darüber hinaus

 
 

El mundo se reunió

The world came together

Die Welt schien hier zusammen zu kommen

 
 

Sencillez que conmueve....

Moving simplicity

Bewegende Schlichtheit

 
 

Gracias, Santo Padre

Thank you, Holy Father

Danke, Heiliger Vater

 

Una iglesia unida

A united church

Einige Kirche

Fotos: Donnelly © 2005

 

ROME, Fr. Alberto Eronti. A real "World Youth Day" or a "historic event", It is estimated that 2000 million persons viewed John Paul II's funeral through TV. After the death of the Pope last April 2nd, from Monday to Thursday, Rome was converted into a pilgrimage site for millions of faithful, wishing to give the Holy Father a final farewell and to participate in his funeral rites. Now the Pope rests in peace and he lives in the "JPII Generation" and much more.

Rome, FridayApril 8th. Last night the "eternal city" looked like a "city besieged" by thousands of youth, and the not so young, who had been arriving throughout the day. They were the ones who had "travelled kiometers and kilometers of faith". With the simplicity that characterized, the "Pope boys" they did not worry about how they would spend the night, and any green space would do. That is how squares, parks, and medians of avenues were converted into a gigantic campground. Hundreds of small tents were rapidly raised, the point was to spend the night in a strategic place so that at dawn they could occupy the places they had foreseen and not miss any part of Pope John Paul II's funeral. The feeling among the authorities was that they had accomplished welcoming and attending to the more than two million pilgrims in an acceptable manner.

To facilitate the participation of everyone, the City installed giant TV screens in the strategic parks and large places. Such as the Basilicas of Saint Mary Major, Saint John Lateran and the walls outside of town of Saint Paul; the Colosseum, the enormous esplanade of Circus Maximus, Tor Vergata, Popolo Square...where thousands of persons were concentrated. The Vicarship of Rome, had foreseen the distribution of Communion at these places, and hundreds of priests and Eucharistic Ministers were mobilized. Everyone is invited to the Table of the Kingdom! In many Italian cities the same was done, instead of the people staying at home following the funeral through TV they could to do it in community.

John Paul II's testament

Last night the general commentary was about Pope Wojtyla's testament. The "light luggage" was impressive, he did not leave anything to give away because he did not own anything. Better still, what he possessed he received as a gift: the love of the Church of men of good will. As for material goods, nothing. Only distant relatives. Once more the deep simplicity of love professed for Mary was revealed, "the Mother of my Master". For her, he became "Totus tuus" (All yours). to belong totally to Jesus Christ and all of the Church and to mankind. His interior process in regard to the place of his burial was moving, some years ago he spoke of being buried in his "beloved land", Krakow. Later he even renounced this, asking to be placed in the bare ground, the same as Paul VI, on whose testament he was inspired. By remaining in the "Cathedral of the World", millions of pilgrims will be able to come to his tomb, in the Vatican crypt. It will no doubt be a place of prayer and of encounter, of nostalgia and peace, with the father and shepherd of everyone. We can also say of him that "he loved the church", he loved all men, peoples and races. His asking for forgiveness and his request for prayer so that the mercy of God will cradle him was touching.

A united world is possible...

Friday afternoon. Everything is finished, the Pope rests in peace and in the Peace that is God himself. I only want to say something about the funeral that impressed me, because surely everyone has seen it through TV. It is noticeable that after the death of Pope Wojtyla something incredible was accomplished: that men have experienced themselves as being "one". Among the more than 200 heads of state, kings and representatives of different countries, there were some that had been at war with each other and some still have some differences. The Pope has gathered them in his person and now they were in the Square of the world.

The atmosphere was one of serenity and peace and joy after a weekend of sorrowful faith. Prayers were said with devoutness and hope. Today there are many who believe that the inheritance has become a mission. Each time the Pope's image appeared on TV showing highlights of his life, he was applauded as if the televised images were live. He was felt alive. Around the obelisk in St. Peter's Square there were many candles, lighted lamps, and also thousands of letters and messages for John Paul II.

We can be sure that our beloved Pope is now in the window of the house of the Father, he sees us and he blesses us"

The beginning of the celebration of the Mass was impressive, the entrance of the coffin attracted everyone's attention. Slowly it was carried to the rug placed in front of the altar. The austerity around it, the lack of flowers, the solitary Paschal Candle, everything centered the vision on the coffin and the book of Gospels that , because of the wind, was left inclined to one side, just as the Pope had lived inclined during the last months.

You heard the homily, and surely it is now in the media. I was impressed by its warmth, the affection with which Cardinal J. Ratzinger prepared it and read it. I also thought the three evangelical phrases were adequate, who according to the Cardinal, summarized the interior course of the Pope: the election, the giving of life for his sheep and remaining in the love of Jesus, which is the love of the Father for the Son and his children. Someone stressed, "all of John Paul II's soul" are in these citations. He was a Pope who awakened the sleepy and encouraged the tired. He marked an intinerary and he affirmed that one must not be afraid of Christ, but rather to open the doors of the heart to him. He died as he lived: giving life. The last years were ones of physical suffering, but he did not break down, he did not hide it, and he did not lie about it. He allowed himself to be seen wounded, but walking, supporting himself by the "Shepherd's crook" which is Christ himself. The reference made about the Blessed Mother as Mother of Divine Mercy was beautiful. The mother that the Pope received in "his house" with the same love of disciple and of son with which Saint John received her at the foot of the cross. The reference to the "closed window" of the papal palace and the final blessing "to the city and the world', given on Easter Sunday, touched everyones heart: he just left and how much we miss him!

"Santo Subito", saint now

Among those attending "Don" Stanislaus (that is what the Pope called him in his testament, he was the Pope's secretary for almost forty years) impressed me, with his serene sorrow of a son, priest, and bishop. I was also impressed by Brother Roger, of the Taize Community, in his wheelchair and with his white habit who reminded us of the Pope whose walking was impeded, but was present where ever the Church or mankind needed him.

But everyone's vision was focused by the cypress coffin, with the coat of arms of John Paul II etched on the upper part. The giant looked so small! The giant was so small and his inheritance was so big! While the multitude chanted: "Saint, Saint, asking for his canonization by acclamation, the hundreds of Polish flags waved its last farewell. A big poster, help by two young men, read: "Santo subito." Saint now, already a Saint.

The end was moving. Together with the Cardinals who surrounded the coffin the representatives of the Eastern Churches gathered, and they prayed the responsorial in Greek. The unity of Churches around a Peter!, the dreams of the last Popes was becoming a reality in this act.

At the end the interminable applause, the last caress for the beloved Pope. I conclude with the words of a young man: "Now we must go forward, without fear, just as he taught us and how he did it". Yes, forward, toward a new Papacy to keep on walking through the new century and the third millennium.

Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, USA



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