Vatican City, Apr 17, 2005 / 22:00 pm
During the last novendiali Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez, Proto-deacon of the College of Cardinals and Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said the heart of Pope John Paul II was like the Heart of Jesus.
The Chilean cardinal, who will be the one to make the “Habemus Papam” (“We have a Pope”) announcement to the world, began his homily speaking for the whole Church, saying, “our sentiments towards him are of gratitude, veneration and joy, for the grace of having lived an important part of our earthly pilgrimage under the guidance of this excellent pastor, a faithful icon of He who is the Good Shepherd and guardian of our souls.”
Cardinal Medina recalled how John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist: “Those of us who observed how John Paul II celebrated the Most Holy Eucharist have the clear perception of how, for him, the offering of his life, united to the offering of Jesus, was the center of his existence. John Paul II as truly a Eucharistic man, modeled after the example of Mary.”
Noting especially the late Popes vast body of teaching, his apostolic dedication, his love of the poor, his concern for peace, his “predilection for youth and for families,” and “his untiring defense of life,” Cardinal Medina said, “Truly the heart of John Paul II was like the Heart of Jesus.”