Vatican City.- The Vatican commemorated this Wednesday the twentieth anniversary of the death of Pope and Saint John Paul II with a mass in the St. Peter's Basilica of the Vatican, although without the presence of Francis, convalescing in his residence.
The Eucharist was presided over by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, from the papal altar of the basilica, despite the absence of Francis, who is continuing his convalescence in his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta, after spending 38 days hospitalized for his respiratory problems.
In addition, a delegation from the Italian Government headed by the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, participated in the ceremony, as well as another representation from Poland and the former secretary for decades of the Polish Pope, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz.
John Paul II reigned in a long and popular pontificate that lasted almost 27 years, until his death on the night of April 2, 2005. He was succeeded by Benedict XVI, who declared him blessed in 2011, while Francis officiated his final canonization in April 2014.
Parolin, in charge of the homily due to the unavailability of the Argentine pontiff, remembered him today as "a saint" and a "tireless pilgrim" for his many trips around the world that introduced the Church into the third millennium.
But, above all, because he addressed "firmly" the rulers of his time to remind them of their "responsibility in the defense of justice, the dignity of human beings and peace."
"We remember with gratitude and admiration his tireless service for peace, his passionate appeals, the diplomatic initiatives to try to avoid wars until the end. And that until the end of his life and although many of his calls were unfortunately not heard, as happened to the great prophets," said Parolin.
And he concluded: "Holy Father John Paul II blesses this church of the Lord on its way to be a pilgrim of hope. Bless this wounded and disoriented humanity so that it may regain the path of its dignity and its highest vocation and recognize the richness of God's mercy and love," implored the cardinal.
Previously, Cardinal Dziwisz, 85, had intervened, who highlighted that Wojtyla "approached the hearts of millions of faithful people around the world".
"We firmly believe that he himself, now, watches over us from the heights, supporting the entire Church in its pilgrimage towards eternity," said the Archbishop Emeritus of Krakow.
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Likewise, Monsignor Dziwisz remembered Pope Francis in these moments of illness.
"Our hearts are with the Holy Father Francis. We know that he is now spiritually united with us. We pray for his health. May the Lord give him the strength necessary to guide the pilgrim Church in this Jubilee Year for hope, in these difficult times also for the world," he concluded.
St. Peter's Basilica hosted thousands of faithful who came to pay homage to the Polish pope and saint twenty years after his death and at whose tomb, in one of the chapels of the temple, they laid several bouquets of flowers.
At the end of the mass, a candle was lit on the tomb of John Paul II, in the presence of the Roman Curia and the Italian Prime Minister, a known admirer of the Polish saint.
