Do you remember where you were when you heard the news of Pope John Paul II’s passing?
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SaintPopeJohnPaulII’spowerfullegacycontinuestoinspireCatholicsandnon-Catholicsalike.Manyofusevenremembercertainmomentsofhispontificate,includingthefinalmomentsofhisearthlylife.
DoyourememberwhereyouwerewhenyouheardthenewsofPopeJohnPaulII’spassing?PopeJohnPaulII’sfinalpublicappearancewasonMarch30,2005.Hewaswheelchairboundandunabletospeak.HishealthhadbeenrapidlydeterioratingduetoParkinson’sdiseaseandothercomplications.
Despitethesephysicalchallenges,SaintPopeJohnPaulIIcontinuedtomakeregularpublicappearances.ThisboldgestureallowedthepublictowitnessaformerlyyoungandlivelyKarolWjotylaembracehiscrossofsufferingwithgrace.
SaintJohnPaulIIdiedontheeveningofApril2,2005.DuringthefinalhoursofSaintJohnPaulII’slifeonearth,theHolyFatherfurtherembodiedtheCatholicteachingonredemptivesuffering.
Onthenightofhisdeath,theMassforDivineMercySundaywascelebratedinhisprivateapartment.JohnPaulIIreceivedOurLordintheEuchar
