Thank You

Not my words, but his. My hopes in the last two days have been that the Holy Father would live his end with all the strength and beautiful example with which he lived his life. I could not have imagined that his last message of the world would be to the youth of the world. 'I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you.' It leaves me speechless. I wish I could express profound thoughts about his life, or death, but I'm left not knowing what to say.

His impact around the world is phenominal. To be such a man of the people, to love the young of the Church so much, to cross so many political and religious boundaries, to so humbly accept and ask forgiveness for many of the sins of our church in the past.

The have been showing his trips to canada on CBC. The small villiages, and remote areas he visited. Footage of children performing for him (dancing) then running to him, hugging and kissing him, and being recieved with joy. The fact that he went to the NWT twice, because the first time his plane couldn't land and he promised he would come back.

The fact that muslims of france were praying for him. The fact that China, who has forbidden Chinese catholics to recognize the vatican, officially stated they were hoping and praying for his recovery. Even George Bush, as hippocritical it is to hear him talk about the value of human life, recognizing him as our Shepherd, and sitting on the throne of Peter, even though the Fundamentalists don't recognize that.

But more than anything, his death is so striking. He went serenely, ready to meet Christ, confident in salvation, and with a message of thanks and hope to the youth of the church on his lips.

The next period is going to be difficult and critical for Catholics, and the whole world. The Cardinals will soon meet to begin the process to select a new pope. Any Catholic man can become pope (if it were ever to be a lay person they would be ordained upon their appointment). JPII changed some rules about how it's done. To prevent political and emotional discourse, the cardinals will write down secret ballots for his successor. There are I think 21 votes that will involve needing a majority for a single person. If after the 21 they can't decide, there is one more, with the need for a majority no longer necessary.

Many are speculating on Cardinals who will succeed JPII, some expect a caretaker pope (one who will not serve long, to let the church catch its breath), others a third world pope. But we need to remember, it is prayer and the guidance of God we need to seek. Not is a critical time of prayer for us. All Catholics need to pray with passion, deep from their hearts, that it will be the Holy Spirit, God alone, that motivates the voting, and our leaders select who God wants. We must be people of trust and prayer and hope.

'I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you.'