A year ago Benedict XVI beatified his beloved predecessor to the See of Peter John
Paul II in Saint Peter's Square in front of the Basilica where a vast sea of pilgrims
had gathered spilling beyond into the streets surrounding it. It was a prayerful
moment but also a joyful one and pilgrims from Karol Wojtylas's native Poland attended
in great numbers.
On a more official level over a dozen heads of State alongside
the cardinals , bishops , priests and men and women religious were seated up close
to the altar.
Only six years had gone by since the death of John Paul II
and in his homily on this occasion the Pope mentioned how he had wanted the cause
of beatification to move forward with reasonable haste and he exclaimed : " And now
the longed-for day has come,it came quickly because this is what was pleasing to the
Lord: John Paul II is blessed..."
In this same homily Benedict XVI pointed
to how this ceremony was timed to coincide with the Second Sunday of Easter which
the late Polish Pontiff had dedicated to Divine Mercy. But also with the beginning
of May, the month traditionally dedicated to Mary , the Mother of God to whom this
late Pope had such special devotion.
His motto 'totus tuus' , Latin words
meaning 'I belong entirely to you ' referred to Mary and let's recall too how
he had placed the letter M beside the Cross on his coat of arms. And the Holy Father
remarked: " The beatitude of faith has its model in Mary, and all of us rejoice
that the beatification of John Paul II takes place on this first day of the month
of Mary, beneath the maternal gaze of the one who by her faith sustained the faith
of the Apostles and constantly sustains the faith of their successors, especially
those called to occupy the Chair of Peter".
Benedict XVI also highlighted
John Paul II's first words following his election to the See of Peter in October 1978
: “Do not be afraid! Open, open wide the doors to Christ!”
What the newly-elected
Pope asked of everyone on this occasion the Holy Father explained he was himself
the first to do : " ...By his witness of faith, love and apostolic courage, accompanied
by great human charisma, this exemplary son of Poland helped believers throughout
the world not to be afraid to be called Christian, to belong to the Church, to speak
of the Gospel. In a word: he helped us not to fear the truth, because truth is the
guarantee of freedom."..