The Holy Father summarised John Paul II’s life in "a couple of words": "faithfulness" to God he said and "devotion" to his mission as the shepherd of the Church across the world. Then, the Pope spoke of the disease that affected the last days of John Paul II’s life. "His disease he said, which he went through with a brave face, has made everyone more aware of human pain, of every physical and spiritual pain; it gave suffering dignity and value by showing that man is not worthy for his efficiency, for his appearance, but for himself, for being created and loved by God". Pope Benedict XVI ended his short speech by inviting people "not to be afraid of following Christ, to bring to everyone the announcement of the Gospel, which is the ferment for a more fraternal and sympathetic humanity". At the end of the vigil, video contact was established with the square in front of the Bishop Court of Cracow, where a Via Crucis was being held in memory of Wojtyla, led by his successor to that archdioceses, cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who for many years had been Wojtyla’s faithful personal secretary. "John Paul II is smiling at us from above", said the cardinal during the broadcast and then he added, speaking to Benedict XVI: "Thanks for the page of the Gospel we are being given".
