Farewell, Father
Pope John Paul II was with us when we fought for freedom and independence, when communism was trying to shut us in. He was with us when we finally broke free. Worried about our future, he then asked us, “What have you done with your freedom?”
Did we understand the difference between “having freedom” and “being free”?
Did we hear his call to build a civilization of love here and now?
John Paul II asked a lot of himself and of us, because he had deep faith in people. With his own life he proved how much one person can accomplish through faith and hard-work. He shared the secret to his mission in the first few days of his pontificate. “Do not be afraid! Open your hearts to Christ,” he called to people gathered on St. Peter’s square during his inauguration.
During the his last days he had difficulty speaking, but he showed us the value of courage and faith with the calm acceptance of his fate.
Goodbye, Father.