After John Paul II’s death the then archbishop of Buenos Aires wrote down one of his memories of him

After John Paul II’s death the then archbishop of Buenos Aires wrote down one of his memories of him

It was 1985 if I remember correctly. One evening I went to recite the Rosary led by the Holy Father. He was at the front kneeling down. There was a large group gathered; The Holy Father had his back to me as I fell deeper and deeper into prayer. I was not alone: I was praying among the people of God and I and all those present belonged to this group, led by our Shepherd.

Halfway through my prayers I became distracted by the Pope: his piety and devotion were a testimony. Time faded and I began to imagine the young priest, the seminarist, the poet, the labourer, the child from Wadowice… in the same position he was in right at that very moment, praying one Ave Maria after the next. His testimony struck me. I felt that that man who was chosen to lead the Church, was following a path that led to his Heavenly Mother, a path he began as a child. And I realised how dense with meaning the words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego were: “Do not fear, am I not here with you who am your mother?” I sensed the presence of Mary in the Pope’s life.

This testimony never once ceased. Ever since then I recite the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary every day.

*This note was written by the then cardinal and Archbishop of Buenos Aires and published by Italian magazine 30 Giorni in an issue on Pope John Paul II’s death (No. 4, April 2005, p.43)

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