“Our Holy Father John Paul has returned to the house of the Father.”
With those words, the death of one of the towering figures of the 20th century – Pope John Paul II – was announced to the world at the Vatican early on Sunday morning (Australian time).
The death of the Pope brings to an end a 26-year pontificate which transformed the office of the papacy and saw him play a key role in such world-shaping events as the fall of communism in eastern Europe.
The 84-year-old gave his final message to the world on Saturday morning when he mouthed the words – “I have looked for you, now you have come, and I thank you”, a statement interpreted as referring to the thousands who had kept vigil in St Peter’s Square.
Following his death in his apartments within the Vatican on Saturday night, Pope John Paul II has been universally praised across the globe for his strong convictions, his private struggles against suffering, and his ongoing efforts to fight oppression and injustice.
Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, described the Pope as “one of the greatest Christian pastors in history” and said history will remember him as “John Paul the Great”.
Cardinal Pell – who has gone to Rome where he will take part in the conclave which will choose the Pope’s successor – said Pope John Paul II’s life “ended as he began – with faith, love and courage”.
“With these he gave a whole world new reasons to hope; new reasons to trust in God and the power of love.”
Meanwhile the Prime Minister, John Howard, described the Pope as “a pillar of strength as well as a provider of great compassion, and in every proper sense of the term, an apostle of peace”.
Mr Howard described the Pope as someone who “combined his great strength with great compassion” and said he would be particularly remembered for his “significant role” in bringing about the end of communism in Eastern Europe.
“It was his commitment to the dignity of the individual and the essential spirituality of man that was the source of his opposition to Soviet Communism and history will always remember favourably the role he played in supporting the Solidarity movement in Poland which led of course to the liberation of that country and was so instrumental in bringing about the end of Soviet imperialism”.
The Governor-General, Major-General Michael Jeffery, said the Pope was a true apostle of peace and had shown that “through strength of character, people suffering a disability can also inspire”.
The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, said Pope John Paul was “always an advocate for human rights, and in particular too a resilient stand for the sanctity of human life, especially for the rights of the unborn and for those who cannot speak for themselves” while the Wesley Mission’s Dr Gordon Moyes said the pope stood out “as a powerful witness to holiness of life, a man close to God, who, in accepting suffering, totally abandoned himself to God’s will”.
“His time as Pope has been marked by compassion for the poor, the sick, victims of injustice, oppression or discrimination, or anything that diminishes human dignity.”
Their sentiments were echoed by other religious and political leaders from around the world.
United States President George Bush said the world had lost a “champion of human freedom” while British Prime Minister Tony Blair described him as “an inspiration, a man of extraordinary faith, dignity and courage”. United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, described the Pope as a “tireless advocate of peace”.
Evangelist Billy Graham described Pope John Paul II as “unquestionably the most influential voice for morality and peace in the in the world during the last 100 years”.
“His extraordinary gifts, his strong Catholic faith, and his experience of human tyranny and suffering in his native Poland all shaped him, and yet he was respected by men and women from every conceivable background across the world…” he said.
Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, said Pope John Paul II would be remembered as “one of the most courageous spiritual leaders of our time”.
“In responding to the challenging issues for the church in the world, he opened a dialogue with other religious traditions and addressed constantly issues of social justice and moral and ethical values.”
