The first record printing of 550,000 prayer leaflets dedicated to John Paul II, printed by the Dutch Bishops’ Conference following the Pope’s death, was exhausted in just 7 days. The second printing of 100,000 copies was issued on 11 April. These are record figures: the first print-run of 550,000 copies exhausted in just seven days was the highest of its kind ever recorded in the Netherlands. On the front page is a photo of the Pope and on the back a prayer written especially for him. The prayer contains thanksgiving to God for the life and pontificate of John Paul II and an invocation to grant rest to the pontiff’s soul. The faithful also invoke strength and inspiration to be able to transmit, in the footsteps of John Paul II, “the good news of life to all people”. The holy images with the prayer for John Paul II were disseminated through the parishes. Alternatively they can be ordered in sets of 10 copies from the secretariat of the Catholic Communities in Holland; the Bishops’ Conference has reported that it has already received numerous telephone requests for them.
