His affection for the world

Today, when I try to recall John Paul II, I see an image of the Pope praying. Clearly there are also the images that did the rounds of the world and that portray him in all the countries of the earth. But the deepest memory of him I have is that of the Pope praying in his chapel. Even during his innumerable international journeys, John Paul II always remained a man in contact with the Lord, a man of the deepest prayer. He bequeathed to us the invitation to accept the Gospel and the need to preach Jesus anew as if it were the very first day after his Resurrection, by going everywhere, by evangelising the various cultures and by returning to the origins of the Church in the individual countries. He did all this, inspired by deep affection for the world. He was always able to grasp the freshness of what the Holy Spirit arouses in the Church and in all peoples. He invited people to fling open the doors to Christ, cross over the threshold of hope, and find in the mystery of the Eucharist and of Mary the freshness of a renewed faith. Monsignor Amédée Grab, Bishop of Chur (Switzerland) President of the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) A year has already gone by since that emotional and moving event of the death of John Paul II. Large numbers of us were present, physically and spiritually, in St. Peter’s Square on 2 April 2005. All the media, photographers, telecameras, all the eyes of the world, were focused on Rome. A huge throng of people came, once again, to pay their last respects to a man who was profoundly dear to them. This anniversary encourages us once again to express our gratitude to God who gave us this Pontiff of a generous and paternal heart. We in Bosnia and Herzegovina treasure an unforgettable memory of his last two visits to our country: the first to Sarajevo on 12-13 April 1997, the second to Banja Luka on 22 June 2002. We are grateful to him also for the beatification of Ivan Merz, who is a lantern, a beacon of fidelity to God in stormy times. Thanks you, John Paul II. Thank you for having struggled tirelessly for man, for peace, especially for our land of Bosnia and Herzegovina. No honest person on this earth shall forget him. It is right we should treasure these memories and seek inspiration from a great man and his teachings. We should always progress with courage according to the directives he gave us during the years of his pontificate. Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Archbishop of Sarajevo President of the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina When John Paul II visited England in 1982, the Bishops and the whole Catholic community were a little nervous, fearing he would be received with hostility or indifference. From the very day of his arrival in London it became clear that he was welcomed with very great affection. People thronged the streets close to Victoria Station and round about Westminster and the scene was repeated wherever the Pope went. Two facts in particular conquered the hearts of the English. The first was the meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, and the second was a photo of the Pope drinking tea with the Queen. Because of the war in the Falklands, the visit was transformed from a State Visit to a pastoral visit, during which there were informal events such as the aforesaid cup of tea in the afternoon and a quiet stroll through the corridors of Buckingham Palace. The Most Rev. Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton