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His Holiness Pope John Paul II, the 263rd Successor of St. Peter, passed away peacefully on 2nd April, 2005 at 09:37 p.m. (GMT). Although his death was foreseen, it is sad to note the death of this Supreme Pontiff. In his death the world, especially the Roman Catholic Church , has lost a spiritual, dynamic and courageous world leader.

We learnt that the Pope's condition was "very serious" following a heart attack, septic shock and a urinary tract infection. A senior Cardinal said he was " abandoned to the will of God ."

"The Pope, since Thursday the 31st March 2005 asked his aides to read various scriptures to him, including a series of prayers, the Stations of the Cross and the narration on the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It seems he made the sign of the Cross at each station" said the Pope's spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

Pope John Paul II was well prepared for his death.

His Holiness received the "Viaticum" and insisted on celebrating Mass with his private secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, on Friday the 1st April 2005.

On the same day, the pilgrims congregated at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome for an evening Mass to pray for Pope John Paul that was celebrated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Pope's Vicar for Rome and attended by Italy's President, Premier and other dignitaries.

"Pope John Paul is confronting the most difficult test of his long and extraordinary life and he confronts it and lives it with the same intimate serenity and loyal abandon to the hands of God that he has always lived, worked, suffered and enjoyed", said Cardinal Camillo Ruini in his homily.

The Pontiff was born Karol Joseph Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920. He was ordained a priest in 1946 and was elected Pope on October 16, 1978. Pope John Paul II was the first Polish Pope and the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years.

He survived an assassination attempt in 1981 and pursued a rigorous travel and preaching schedule despite his frailty due to advanced Parkinson's disease. His strength, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and commitment to peace, inspired millions and became proverbial.

During his 26 years of Pontificate, the Pope traveled around the world to comfort the poor and sick and he will be remembered for his strong voice on human rights and dignity.

His principle documents included 14 encyclicals, 13 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions and 42 apostolic letters. He presided at 138 beatification ceremonies (about 1338 Blesseds proclaimed) and 48 canonization ceremonies (about 482 Saints). He created 231 Cardinals.

At his death, people around the globe are in mourning as he was one of the most recognized and respected personalities in the world.

The Editorial Board of www.indiabuildinginfo.com pray, that the Merciful Lord grant Eternal Rest, Reward and Peace to His Holiness.
     
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The passing away of Pope John Paul II marks the end of an era. Pope John Paul II's papacy was historic in many ways. He was the first non-Italian Pope in four and a half centuries and the third longest serving Pope in history.

Pope John Paul II has been described as "The Man of the Twentieth Century". Indeed, he experienced first-hand some of the landmark political events of the century. He experienced the horrors of totalitarianism in his native Poland during World War II and then faced the challenge of being a priest in Communist Poland. His support to the Solidarity movement in Poland reportedly played a role in the collapse of communism in that country. However, it is his attempt to reach out to other faiths that would certainly be his most remarkable contribution.

As TIME magazine noted when naming him Man of the Year in 1994, he generated an electricity "unmatched by anyone else on earth."

In March 2000, Pope John Paul II offered an unprecedented apology for Catholic sins against Jews over the centuries. He travelled to Islamic countries and become the first Pope to visit a mosque. He was a passionate advocate of peace and nuclear disarmament and led the Vatican's campaign against the war on Iraq.

   
         
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