Catholic Church marks anniversary of John Paul II's death

Apr 2, 2006, 13:54 GMT

Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI recalled Sunday John Paul II's 'immense heritage' and his ability to 'touch the hearts of people' as Catholics in Rome and across the globe commemorated the first anniversary of the death of the late pontiff.

'On April 2 of last year, just like today, our beloved Pope John Paul II was living in these same hours the final stage of his earthly pilgrimage, a pilgrimage of faith, love and hope that has left a profound mark on the history of the Church and humanity,' Benedict told scores of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

'His heritage is immense,' Benedict said, recalling John Paul's many travels and his call on the faithful to 'open wide the doors to Christ' as providing an ideal summary of his long reign.

The anniversary was being marked with special Masses held in Roman Catholic churches in Karol Wojtyla's native Poland and around the world and with celebrations climaxing in the evening in St. Peter's Square.

As many as 300,000 pilgrims, perhaps more according to some estimates, have been gathering in Rome's famous piazza, where they planned to recite the rosary and hold a prayer vigil with Benedict XVI. The pope was to give a short speech at 9.37 p.m., the time of his predecessor's death.

Almost 2,000 volunteers and a large police presence was at hand to assist the pilgrims, hand out bottles of water and ensure that the proceedings went smoothly.

Pilgrims were expected to return to the square on Monday afternoon for a special anniversary Mass led by Benedict.

Long queues have been forming for days at John Paul II's tomb in a grotto beneath St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, with many people leaving notes with intercessions and prayers. Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi also paid a private visit to the crypt on Sunday morning.

The late pontiff died of septic shock and an irreversible cardiovascular collapse at 9.37 p.m. on April 2, 2005, some 70 hours after his already fragile health had suddenly deteriorated as a result of an infection to the urinary tract. He was 84 and had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than 10 years.

According to a recent book co-authored by his personal doctor, Renato Buzzonetti, John Paul, speaking in Polish with a weak voice, had told his aides on the morning of April 2 to 'let me go to God' before entering a coma at about seven in the evening.

'He never displayed his physical suffering thereby giving our epoch, which conceals bodily decay, illness and death almost as though they were scandalous an extraordinary lesson,' said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls ahead of Sunday's celebrations.

The anniversary has prompted the publication in Italy of a flurry of films, DVDs and magazines honouring the man who guided the Roman Catholic Church for more than 26 years and who could soon be admitted into the canon of saints.

The process leading to his beatification has been proceeding speedily, with about 100 witnesses, some of whom knew Wojtyla since his youth, heard by Vatican officials over the past six months.

Under canon law the church must prove that Pope John Paul II worked a miracle before it can beatify him. Only then can it search for evidence of another miracle required for canonization.

In Poland, all large newspapers and magazines have been remembering their former pope with reports and analyses of his influence on the church and on world events, but also on 'simple believers.'