"We mourn with the world the passing of Pope John Paul II. His death brings to all a deep sense of grief and loss," she said upon learning of the news that the Pope, who has endeared himself to majority of the Filipino people, has finally succumbed to death.
At dawn yesterday, Vatican has announced the death of the 84-yearold Pope due to lingering illness and complications, capping his 26-year papacy that is characterized by 104 foreign travels in Christian and nonChristian countries alike.
"The world will miss a great spiritual bridge among all nations that he touched and blessed with his gentle hand. The weak and oppressed will always remember their hero and advocate who sowed peace and love by his awesome charisma and noble deeds," Mrs. Arroyo said.
The Pope, whose real name is Karol Wojtyla, has twice visited the Philippines – the first one was during a visit to the late president Ferdinand Marcos in 1981 and the second was to attend the World Youth Day celebration the country has hosted in 1995.
Mrs. Arroyo, a devout Catholic herself, hailed the Pope as a "holy champion of the Filipino family" which is now under siege by some quarters of the society promoting the legalization of divorce and artificial family planning methods.
"He was a holy champion of the Filipino family and of the profound Christian values that make everyone of us contemplate everyday what is just, moral and sacred in life," she said.
The Pope was supposed to make his third visit in the country sometime in 2003 to lead the celebration of the World Meeting of Families, but had to cancel it due to his frail health condition.
Not too long ago also, Mrs. Arroyo has paid a courtesy visit to Pope John Paul II during her European tour where she solicited the Papal blessing as she received a fresh electoral mandate in the last May 2004 elections.
During her personal audience with the Pope, the President also asked him to bless the Philippines and the Filipino people, most of whom profess the Catholic faith. The Philippine is considered the only Christian nation in Asia.
To express the Filipino people’s deep sympathies and condolences, the Chief Executive declared a "period of national mourning" that starts today and lasts "until the Pope is laid to rest" even as she ordered all government offices to fly the flag at half mast.
"We join the whole of humanity in prayer on this day of universal bereavement," she said.
Kabayan hails Pope as a great man
Vice President Noli de Castro yesterday said Pope John Paul II’s demise is taken with deepest sorrow and lamentation by the Filipino nation. "We have lost a great man, whose life was centered on prayer, evangelization and church ministry throughout the world."
De Castro said in Filipino that "alam nating lahat na may espesyal na puwang ang sambayanang Pilipino sa puso ng Santo Papa. Ipinakita niya sa atin ang kahalagahan ng pananampalataya sa ating Panginoon, ang pagmamahal sa ating sarili, pamilya at kapwa. Sa kanyang pagpanaw, huwag natin iwawaglit sa ating puso at isipan ang kanyang mahahalagang naituro sa ating lahat."
Let us forever instill in our hearts the Pope’s teachings, sacrfices and service to God and let it be an example to everyone and an invitation to be united in compassion, he added
Cardinal Sin cites Pope’s great love for RP
Archbishop Emeritus of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin yesterday reminded the Filipino people of the Pope’s great love for the country.
"Everytime we meet, he would always mention his great love for the Filipino people," the cardinal said in his message yesterday.
As proof of that love, he said, the Pope did not only visit the country twice but also did so many things for the Filipino people to make them feel his paternal love and concern.
He cited the time when he canonized the first Filipino saint San Lorenzo Ruiz and beatified Blessed Pedro Calungsod.
Even in the country’s darkest hours or Martial Law days the Pope, he said, was there for the Filipino people by rallying the bishops in pursuing justice and promoting the dignity of the human person.
Among other countries, the Pope, he added, also chose to gather the youth for the World Youth Day here in Manila in 1995 where the former celebrated the largest attended mass in history.
This, Sin said, was probably the reason why the Pontiff considered Filipinos as a phenomenal people.
The Holy Father’s love, however, he said, was also not unrequited since the Filipino were very fond also of the Pontiff.
"We love him because we share a lot of concerns with him. The Pope and Filipinos know how it is to rise from the ashes of war and atrocities. We both understand the struggle for justice, good governance and genuine economic development," he said.
"Above all, we share with him a deep love for the Blessed Mother. The sweet name of Mary is always in his lips and ours. We can very much identify with him. Truly he is our father and we are his children," Sin added.
Now that the Pontiff is gone, he said, and the church lost its father and shepherd, Sin urged Filipinos to keep upholding their duties as Christians by pursuing freedom, restoring justice and defending the poor and the oppressed.
Sin, who retired in 2003 was one of the cardinals who attended the 1978 conclave in Vatican, the time when the Supreme Pontiff was elected into office. (Leslie Ann Aquino)
Cory Aquino’s statement
Former President Corazon C. Aquino said yesterday on Pope John Paul II’s death:
"I am saddened by the passing of Pope John Paul II. But at the same time, I am happy that he is now with the Lord.
"I was privileged to attend mass thrice in his private chapel. Watching him pray after the mass was truly inspiring. I hoped then that I could learn to pray like him – with total compassion.
"He also always treated me kindly, both as president and after my presidency.’’
De Venecia: Most popular pope in history
Speaker Jose de Venecia yesterday said "we are deeply saddened by the passing of probably the greatest—and most popular pope in history since St. Peter. I have no doubt that because of his life’s work—and his tireless effort to strengthen the faith and spread the gospel of peace—he would achieve sainthood."
De Venecia said that because of his ecumenism, "Pope John Paul II served as my greatest inspiration when we initiated the Christian-Muslim and Inter-faith dialogues, which have been approved by the United Nations."
Pope John Paul II accomplished much during his 26-year papacy and history will remember him fondly, he said. "He was partly responsible for the fall of the Berlin Wall, the liberation of Eastern Europe, and the re-conversion of Russia."
Public offices in Manila at half-mast
Mayor Jose Atienza Jr. yesterday ordered the flags in all city government facilities to be flown at half-mast as Manila mourns the death of Pope John Paul II.
Flags at half-mast would remain until the beloved Pope, who visited Manila twice, is buried.
"We are inspired and will continually be inspired by the Pope’s teachings on the constant propagation of a culture of life," Atienza, Pro-Life Philippines chairman, said.
He added that the city government of Manila, under his administration, will steadfastly adhere to the culture of life as espoused by the late Pope John Paul II.
In 1995 an assassination plot on the Pope during his second visit to Manila was foiled by the Western Police District (WPD) and Presidential Security Group (PSG) acting on the initiative of alert Malate barangay officials under Atienza who was the city’s vice mayor then.
Mohammed Bin Yousef was arrested at the Josefa Apartments along Quirino Avenue and was later convicted in the United States for his involvement in the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The Pope’s second visit to Manila also become historic because it drew the largest Papal crowd ever.
An estimated four million Catholics attended the culminating activity of the World Youth Day at the Rizal Park.
Pope ushers Church into ‘era of openness’ - Angara
Senator Edgardo J. Angara yesterday expressed deep sadness over the death of Pope John Paul II, who, he said, has ushered the Catholic Church into "unprecedented era of openness without compromising the core doctrines of the church."
"I join the nation and the world in mourning the passing of a great pope, and a greater human being," said Angara.
Angara said that Pope John Paul II fought for women’s rights and against child abuse, dealt with controversial issues such as sexual indiscretion of priests, canonized more saints than any other pope in history, and inspired people to defy authoritarianism.
"On a personal level, he was an apostle of forgiveness, forgiving and even praying for his would-be assassin, Mehmet Ali Agca," said Angara.
Angara noted that Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines two times, and traveled around the world "as Christianity’s tireless ambassador of faith."
"He crossed continents on a mission of peace, joy, faith and global unity," said Angara.
Angara said that the Pope’s experiences in his native Poland made him wary of Authoritarianism and closed societies.
He also said that the collapse of dictatorships and the fall of despots which was the greatest political development after World War II, all transpired under the papacy of Pope John Paul II.
Angara said that he is praying that the next pope would be like Pope John Paul II, possessing the attributes both "as a trailblazer and a steady force for Christianity."
Villar: A charismatic and revered man
Senator Manny Villar yesterday expressed his grief over the passing of Pope John Paul II.
"I join the entire nation and the whole world in mourning the death of our beloved Pope John Paul II, an extraordinary man who have blessed so many lives," he said, adding that "the Pope’s mere presence and wave of his hands left people deeply touched, he was truly a charismatic and revered man."
He noted that "the Philippines had the privilege to witness the power that the Pope’s mere presence brings during his papal visits where millions of Filipinos brave the heat and crowd to catch a glimpse of him. Many Filipinos still vividly remember that the moment in their lives with much awe."
"I experienced for myself the Pope spiritual and magnetic presence having had the honor to meet him up close. We may have lost a champion on earth but we can rest assured that we have gained an advocate in heaven," Villar said.
Pangilinan: Pope John Paul II is irreplaceable
Senator Francis Pangilinan yesterday said "Pope John Paul II is irreplaceable. He would truly be missed. He was the world’s benevolent father."
He recalled that thousands of Filipinos walked for miles and waited for hours to catch a glimpse of the Pope who gave the country its first saint and directed local church officials to support former President Corazon Aquino, a factor that led to the demise of a dictatorship.
He said the Pope nourished doctrinal conservatism and denounced abortion, euthanasia, and divorce. But on the other hand, he noted he was progressive in his political stance. "He actively opposed the U.S.-led wars against Iraq the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. He called for an end to
the U.S. embargo on Cuba and U.N. sanctions against Iraq, and declared that the rich nations should forgive the debts of the developing world. He also became the first pope to step into a mosque."
Pangilinan said the Pope visited almost every country in the world and spoke the native tongue of most. His themes, he noted, were peace, justice and the sanctity of life. Hence, he forgave and even prayed for his assassin. His appeal lies in his humanity, he said.
Pope’s effort toward peace and justice cited
Human rights activists under the banner of Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights commiserate with the nation and the world on the demise of Pope John Paul II yesterday.
The world looked up to the Pope, head of the Roman Catholic Church and Vatican’s head of state, for inspiration and moral guidance, Karapatan said in a statement.
"We are reminded how Pope John Paul spoke on the unjust war of the US coalition against the Iraqi people. He heeded the call of the world’s peoples against the US war of aggression. His message, addressed not only to the faithful, but more importantly to world leaders, was loud and clear," it said.
The statement also said that "as the people across the world mourn his death, let us find consolation that he has passed away peacefully, unlike many of our countrymen and the world’s peoples whose lives have been snuffed by greed and love of power of governments and global powers."
May his life and times remind us not just to pray but work for peace and justice, especially for those who have become victims of social inequities, Karapatan said.
