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Thousands honor former pope a year after his death

People pray beside a ``sea of candles'' at a holy mass celebrated in Pilsudski Square in Warsaw, Poland, to mark the first anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death on Sunday. According to police, 8,000 people gathered at the square. PHOTO: EPA

Before a thronged St Peter's Square, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday marked the exact moment of his predecessor John Paul II's death a year ago by reciting a special prayer at 9:37pm.

"He continues to be present in our minds and in our hearts," Benedict said, reflecting on the life of the late pope from the window of his apartment, where John Paul II died on April 2 last year after a 26-year pontificate.

"One year has passed since the death of our beloved John Paul II, which happened at this precise moment, 9:37pm, but his memory continues to be more alive than ever," he said.

Some 80,000 pilgrims were massed in the square clutching lighted candles for the prayer service, a moving tribute to the lasting appeal of the late pope held under the glow of a crescent moon.

"The entire city of Rome has gathered symbolically for this moving moment of reflection and prayer," Benedict said.

He said John Paul II, who suffered from crippling Parkinson's disease, faced his long illness "with courage -- which made everyone more aware of human pain, physical or spiritual."

"John Paul II is helping us from heaven to follow our path, remaining docile disciples of Jesus to be, like he himself liked to tell young people, `sentinels of the dawn' at the beginning of this third Christian millennium," he said.

In a leaf taken from his famous polyglot predecessor, the German pope greeted Poles -- watching by a special live television link from John Paul II's home cathedral of Krakow -- in their own language.

"The memory of John Paul II is alive in us and the feeling of his spiritual presence will never fade," he said in Polish.

Repeating his predecessor's words, he told them: "Remain strong in the faith."

Leading the commemoration in Krakow was the late pope's faithful private secretary, now cardinal, Stanislaw Dziwisz.

"Thank you, thank you, Holy Father," responded Dziwisz, his message broadcast on big screens erected around the Vatican square.

"John Paul II is smiling down at us from Heaven," he said.

Many of the pilgrims packed inside the Vatican square were moved to tears by the ceremony.

"We were here at this moment a year ago, and now we are reliving the whole thing all over again," said Grazyna Szemraj, 46, one of thousands of Polish pilgrims in Rome for the event.

Many held up the red and white flag of the late pontiff's native Poland and chatted happily ahead of Benedict's appearance. Many others stood in silent reflection.

"I feel a little sad. He was such a great man, for all the things he did in his life, for his suffering," said 54-year-old Mauro Pallazzoli through tear-filled eyes.

Alicia Zapawa, a Polish woman living in Rome, said commemorating the pope's passing was "an important moment for the whole world."

Behind her, a group from Poland held up a giant banner proclaiming "John Paul the Great, Make him a Saint Now."

"I hope he will be a saint soon," chimed in Kang In-chul, a 24-year old student from Seoul, South Korea.
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