VATICAN CITY, NOV 11, 2004 (VIS) - This morning
in the Vatican Basilica John Paul II presided at a Mass for the repose of the
souls of the cardinals and bishops who have died this year. Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, celebrated the Eucharist along with
other cardinals.
In the homily, the Holy Father affirmed that "the mystery of the death
and resurrection of Christ will be fulfilled in Easter. It is a mystery which is
constantly renewed in the Eucharist, mystical banquet, in which the Messiah
delivers Himself as nourishment to the guests, to unite them to Him in a bond of
love and life that is stronger than death. ... Every time we celebrate the
Eucharist we participate in the Lord's supper which gives us a foretaste of the
heavenly glory."
The Pope recalled "with affection, in a special way, Cardinals Paulos
Tzadua, Opilio Rossi, Franz Koenig, Hyacinthe Thiandoum, Marcelo Gonzalez
Martin, Juan Francisco Fresno Larrain, James Aloysius Hickey and Gustaaf Joos.
Let us pray for them and for the archbishops and bishops who died this year,
whom we entrust with filial trust to divine mercy."
"Thinking about them and their generous service to the Church," he
continued, "it is as if we can hear them repeat with the Apostle Paul:
'Hope never disappoints'!"
John Paul II concluded by emphasizing that "God is faithful and our hope
in Him is not in vain. Let us give thanks to Our Lord for all the benefits He
has granted to the Church through the priestly ministry of these deceased
pastors. Let us invoke the maternal intercession of Our Lady so that they may
participate in the eternal banquet, the same banquet that they tasted with faith
during their earthly pilgrimage."