FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2005
Contact: Andrew J. Walton
(856) 756-7900, ext. 5282
STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL II
Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, D.D., J.C.D.
It is with deep sadness and prayerfulness that we commend the soul of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, to eternal rest in the embrace of the God he served so faithfully and completely.
Surely Pope John Paul II over these last four decades was a pivotal, transforming figure not only in the Church, but in world history. In assessing his greatness history will record his enduring influence on world affairs, including the fall of repressive regimes and the liberation of entire nations; his often lonely voice on behalf of world peace and for the dignity of human life at every stage of existence; his untiring work to mend the rifts that have divided the great religions; his gestures of understanding and reconciliation toward our Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox and Protestant brothers and sisters.
He will be remembered for his penetrating intellect, the clarity and consistency of his teaching, as well as his persistence and courage in proclaiming the truth of the Catholic faith. He will be remembered for traveling to every corner of the planet to be present to God’s people, a sign of hope in troubled times and a forceful advocate for the marginalized and disadvantaged.
He will be remembered for capturing the hearts of our young people with his boundless charisma, personal warmth and good humor, enkindling in them a love of the faith.
As Pope John Paul II physically deteriorated in his last years, he loomed larger than ever, giving powerful, personal witness to the redemptive value of human suffering, which he himself endured with humility, grace and dignity. And, in his last days the Holy Father, fluent in so many languages, did so with the eloquence of silence.
Most of all, he will be remembered for his personal holiness, for his deep, intense-indeed mystical-prayerfulness. This pope loved Jesus and his people! By uniting himself so completely to Jesus, Jesus lived in him and through him. By uniting himself so completely to Jesus, he led countless millions also to know and love Jesus and invited them to enter into communion with the paschal mystery of His suffering, dying and rising.
We grieve for the loss of this great and holy man. Yet, as a Christian people, a more powerful feeling of hope breaks through our sadness. As we pray today for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father, we do so with the words of Saint Paul in mind:
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
for while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake,
so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh…,
knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus. (2 Cor 4:8-12, 14)
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Bishop Joseph Galante served in the Vatican with the Holy Father from 1987-1992 as Undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. He was also a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and a consultant for the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life.
The Diocese of Camden serves 458,000 Catholics in 134 Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem County parishes and missions. The 64 elementary and secondary schools of the diocese serve 20,000 students in the six counties.