Pope John Paul II's faith rock-like at end, says Pope

(March 30, 2010) Physical weakness never affected Pope John Paul II's "rock-like faith," Pope Benedict XVI affirmed on Monday during a Mass, for the fifth anniversary of the Polish Pontiff's death. The Mass for the late Pope was celebrated on Monday, though the anniversary of his death is April 2, which this year falls on Good Friday. In his homily, Pope Benedict spoke of the charity toward Christ shown by Mary, when she anointed his feet with oil. He said that Pope John Paul II's whole life unfolded in the sign of charity, of this capacity, to give himself in a generous way, without reservations, without measure, without calculation. What moved him," the Pope said, "was love for Christ, to whom he had consecrated his life, a superabundant and unconditional love. The Holy Father said that those who worked closely with Pope John Paul II, could sense his certainty of contemplating the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; a certainty that accompanied him in the course of his existence and that, in a particular way, was manifested during the last period of his pilgrimage on this earth. "He let himself be consumed by Christ, for the Church, for the whole world," the Pope said. "His was a suffering lived to the end for love and with love."
Pope Benedict XVI gave a special greeting to Polish pilgrims who participated in the Mass, saying their countryman represents a particular responsibility for them.