At 9:37pm Saturday (Italian Time), the wole world mourned for the loss of a great man. Pope John Paul II, after suffering much from his illness finally laid to rest. Everyone, whether they be Catholic, Christian or non-Christian has been paying tribute to this wonderful man. News around the world had no other commentaries except for the news of what's been going on in the Vatican as they get ready to finally put the Holy See's body to its final resting place.
Everyone, from Catholic Priests, Mulsim Leaders, Protestant Pastors and the lide have been giving their respects to the Holy Father. Each one giving and sharing their experiences with him. Over the news, thousands...or millions of people, young or old, rich or poor have been flocking to St. Peter's Basilica to pay their respects to him. Yesterday, during the Formula One Race every since team paid tribute to him in their own special way. Jarno Trulli had a sticker on his helmet saying "Thank you, Pope" and the two noses of Ferrari's F2005 were painted black to give their respects. Thousands upon thousands have their one litte tribute, however minial it may be just to tell the whole world how they love this holy man.
I personally do not know the Pope, nor have I actually seen him in person (well if you count seeing him in his Pope Mobile during the World Youth Day giving every one his blessing as he passed by then okay so I have seen him in person). But listening to him, learning the things that he had done during his time as the Head of the Catholic Faith, and just being the person that he is gave me an honor that I have lived to see the things that he had done during his lifetime.
He has great love for children. During the World Youth Day celebration in 1994 here in my country, he clearly emphasized how important the world's youth is to the future. Not only in Religion but in all aspects of life as well. And what I really like about him is on how he showed his fondness for children. I remember watching on television when they showed him stepping down the airplane and children where dancing in the airport in greeting. His bodyguards and assistants where pointing him towards the entrance to the airport but he walked over to the children who were dancing and gave each one his blessing. When he retired after the activities for the day, everyone flocked to his residence chanting "Pope Paul Two! We love you!" and he would grace the kids by showing himself in the balcony of his residence and chant back, "Pope Paul Two, loves you too!". That was very memorable for me.
This man has tried all his life to bring the whole world together while everyone else is trying to break us apart. He never cared what religion you are just as long as you believe in God. He tried to understand other religions and tried to visit them all and to convince them to live in peace. He travelled to places where he knows that he is not welcome because of who he represents but did it anyway, and the end result was great! He did his best to keep the world together and he almost succeeded.
I will never forget him and his beliefs. While he's very strict with the Church Doctrines and while I disagree with some of his ideas about same sex marriage, he is a kind of man that when everyone is forgotten we would never forget him. He has brought the world hope that everything will be alright. He has given us back our faith in the Lord, whether it may be directly or indirectly. The Pope has changed everyone's lives and though we may not see it or feel it, it's there.
So as they ready him to be received by our Father in Heaven, I chant these words one last time: "POPE PAUL II, WE LOVE YOU!"
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