Lombardi Editorial: Duc in altum!

EDITORIAL
Octava Dies 622, May 7 2011
By Federico Lombardi
Director, Vatican Radio & Vatican Television Centre

Duc in altum!

“When I saw the coffin holding his body being raised up from the open tomb, I thought: Here he is, coming back to us!” This was how Cardinal Dziwisz, during the vigil on Saturday evening, expressed the feelings that flooded the hearts of those who were present in that moment, and also of those who wanted to file once again past the remains of the new Blessed, in the centre of the Basilica, near Peter’s tomb, as they did in the days after his death. Of course, for the believer, John Paul II had always been alive and presen,t but it cannot be denied that the days of his Beatification have represented a powerful return for him amongst the people of God in prayer and celebration. So these have been days of grace. And for this reason we understand the meaning and importance of every beatification but in particular, of this one, in the life of the Catholic Church.
Among the innumerable people who had waited from the previous night, waiting to get to St. Peter’s Square, there were many young families, with children born in the last decade, children who certainly didn’t know Pope John Paul II, but who are heirs of the generation of “his” young people.
John Paul II knew he had the mission of taking the Church into the third millennium, and at the end of the Great Jubilee he said to us, he said to all of God’s people: “Duc in altum! Put out into the deep!” The Church goes into the deep sea of the third millennium but knows it can continue to count on the support of an effective Intercessor who invites us not to be afraid. Pope Benedict XVI echoes his prayer: “Continue, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God’s people. You often blessed us. Today we pray: Holy Father, bless us!”