Vatican City, Apr 29, 2011 / 09:09 am
“He was a sign of Jesus Christ.” That’s Cardinal Walter Kasper’s seven-word summary of Pope John Paul II.
Speaking to CNA in St. Peter's Square only two days before the beatification of the late pontiff, the veteran German cleric explained why he thinks this weekend’s events are of such significance.
“The importance of this beatification is that it’s a beatification by the people – the people of God. Since the funeral we know that people have venerated him (Pope John Paul) and, indeed, the line to his tomb never was interrupted all through those years. He was a sign of Jesus Christ.”
As a leading theologian, Cardinal Kasper got to know the late pope over many years. In 1999 Pope John Paul appointed the then Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuggart to the presidency of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Two years later he elevated him to the rank of cardinal.