"Karol, near to God in love, companion for man"

March 30, 2010. Thousands of people gathered at the Vatican to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the death of John Paul II.

Benedict XVI celebrated the mass in the basilica. The Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, secretary of Karol Wojtyla for almost 40 years, also attended.

Benedicto XVI
“Throughout John Paul II’s life he showed charity, the ability to give himself to others in a generous way, without reservation and without measure”.

During the Mass, Benedict XVI remembered the suffering John Paul experienced during the last years of his life.

Benedict XVI
“He allowed himself to be consumed for Christ and for the Church, for the whole world, his was a suffering lived until the last for love and with love”.

Benedict XVI also talked about the great responsibility that comes with being the successor of a Pope as legendary as John Paul II.

Five years ago, during his last hours, John Paul II convened some of his closest collaborators to give them thanks and tell them goodbye.

Among them, he called Cardinal Ratzinger, his right hand man as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

A few days later, Cardinal Ratzinger celebrated his funeral before heads of state and leaders of the whole world.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
“We can be sure that today our beloved Pope is at the window of the house of the Father, he sees us and he blesses us. Yes, bless us Holy Father”.

Benedict XVI authorized the opening of the beatification process of John Paul II two months after the Pope died. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is overseeing the process, and depending on the outcome, Pope John Paul II could be declared blessed in 2011.