None of this was on my mind as, somewhere in the gold-plated bowels of the Vatican, I approached His Holiness John Paul II. He didn't know me, but after I was introduced his face lit up as if he recognized an old friend. He looked directly at me. His eyes were sparkling, and his smile was open, bright. This broken body, its entire tortured life a prayer, I saw in his eyes that it was full of earnest love for his fellow man, which radiated from his face with a compelling presence. And honestly, he is the most beautiful man I have ever met. I managed to hold back my tears as I knelt before our bishop in white.
Editors Note:
On Sunday, 27 April 2014, John XXIII and Pope John Paul II were declared saints on Divine Mercy Sunday.
Sources:
- Inescapably, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
- http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/biography/index.htm
- http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/ santopadre_biografie/giovanni_paolo_ii_biografia_breve_en.html
- http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/ santopadre_biografie/giovanni_paolo_ii_biografia_prepontificato_en.html
- http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/ santopadre_biografie/giovanni_paolo_ii_biografia_pontificato_en.html
- http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/ rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000626_message-fatima_fr.html
- http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1538173,00.html
- http://www.economist.com/agenda/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3622703
- Other readings, and personal experience.