Lourdes, France, Aug 14, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Despite evident signs of pain and weakness, Pope John Paul II delivered from Lourdes a powerful call to defend life from the moment of conception to its natural end.
Before a crowd of more than 250,000 pilgrims, including many sick, the Pontiff said that “with special affection I greet the sick and all who have come to this holy place to seek consolation and hope. May the Blessed Virgin enable you to sense her presence and give comfort to your hearts!”
At one point during the Mass, the Pope said in Polish “pomorzie mi” –“Help me,”- as he gestured to aide Monsignor Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki for a glass of water.
Nevertheless, after a short while, he whispered again in Polish “musze siconczyc” -“I must continue to the end”.-