John Paul II passed away the day before the second Easter Sunday, recalled the Pope: "His agony took place entirely on this day, in this new space-time that is the eighth day, wanted by the Most Holy Trinity through the work of the Word made flesh, dead and resurrected. In this spiritual dimension, on several occasions Pope John Paul II proved to be somehow already plunged, during his lifetime, and especially in the accomplishment of his mission as the Supreme Pontiff". "The Easter dynamism, which made John Paul II’s life a total answer to the call of the Lord, could not be expressed without a participation in the suffering and death of the Divine Master and Redeemer", stated the Pontiff, who commented tha, "since his childhood", Karol Wojty³a had met the Cross in his path, in his family and in his people" and "soon decided to carry it along with Jesus, following in His footsteps. He wanted to be His faithful servant to such an extent that he welcomed the call to priesthood as a gift and a commitment of a lifetime. With Him he lived and with Him he wanted to die as well. And all this, through the unique mediation of the Virgin".
