July 1, 2009. John Paul II used to say that the Gemelli hospital in Rome was his third home. In fact, he was hospitalized there nine times and spent a total of 153 nights on the tenth floor, in the hospital’s apartment reserved for the pope.
From this window he prayed the Sunday Angelus several times and even had general audiences here.
In his memory, the hospital placed a statue of John Paul II in the main entrance.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz
Archbishop of Krakow (Poland)
"When someone walks through the door of this hospital and looks at this statue of the Pope, even at a glance, they will find inspiration and strength and receive his help and protection".
Monsignor Renato Boccardo
Secretary General, Governorate of Vatican City State.
"From here, the pope gave his message that life is worth living, even with the hindrances of disease".
The statue carries the phrase “Be not afraid,” which John Paul II spoke during the inaugural Mass of his pontificate. According to his secretary, that was the same attitude Karol Wojtyla had during the difficult times he had to face in his life.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz
Archbishop of Krakow (Poland)
"The Lord wanted the Pope to go experience the mystery of pain up until his last minute. His whole pontificate was full of painful moments, with particularly tragic moments, like when his life was threatened in St. Peter’s Square on May 13, 1981. When he lost his voice, he would write “thank you” to those who tended to him".
Cardinal Dziwisz said that he hopes the late pope’s beatification be celebrated soon.
This week theologians from the Congregation for the Cause of Saints had already approved the tests that had been presented.
The next step involves cardinals and archbishops analyzing the case as well as the pope’s official approval.
DG
