We in the Diocese of Saint Augustine are deeply saddened by the death of Pope John Paul II, the spiritual leader of our Catholic faith. We join all people of Florida, the United States and of the world in mourning his passing.
But we also know and believe that John Paul II lived his life in preparation for the hour when he would leave this earthly life "“ to join God, our heavenly Father, for all
eternity. Late last month, we were reminded "“ at the great Christian feast of Easter "“ that Christ has given us the gift of eternal life. And it is for the Holy Father and for all us that Christ lived, died and was raised from the dead so that we, too, could live again.
While we who are left behind are saddened, we can also see the many blessings that, the Holy Father shared with others throughout the world from Poland to Jerusalem, to Africa and the Americas. The legacy that he leaves us is that each person has been endowed with an intrinsic value for having been created in the image and likeness of God.
We ask all people to pray for the Holy Father, and for the Catholic Church as her College of Cardinals, guided by the Holy Spirit, meet in the near future to select a new pope.
