March 29, 2011. This
is one of the men who spent some of the most time with John Paul II. Arturo Mari was the pope's personal
photographer. He has produced millions of photographs of Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II and now Benedict XVI. He has no doubt about which of his photographs is his favorite.
Arturo
Mari
Personal photographer of John Paul II
"He
would arrive every morning at 6.20 am at his apartment and would work
all day, until 8, 9, 10 or 11 at night."
Such was the energy of the pope and his closest
associates. They had an enthusiasm that was maintained until the last
minute.
Arturo Mari could see first hand how John Paul II
changed the world, as he accompanied him on all the meetings,
hearings and trips he made in his 26 year pontificate.
Arturo
Mari
Personal photographer of John Paul II
"We
will remember John Paul II as the man who changed the world. It's
something you can see from the first trip to the last. Everyone who
heard him witnessed his teaching and his message being carried off
all to the countries of the world, from North to South, East and
West."
Arturo
Mari has worked more than 53 years as a papal photographer. He has
produced millions of photographs of Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI,
John Paul I, John Paul II and now Benedict XVI. But Arturo Mari, the
photographer of the popes, has no doubt about which of his
photographs is his favorite.
It was taken at the time of the
last Holy Week of John Paul II's reign, during the Stations of the
Cross. The pope, for health reasons, could not be present at the
Colosseum, but followed the ceremony from his private chapel.
Arturo
Mari was able to photograph a historic moment at the fourteenth
station, which recalls the burial of Jesus.
Arturo
Mari
Personal photographer of John Paul II"The
Holy Father asked Father Stanislao Dziwisz to give him the cross. For
a split second, the pope took the crucifix, gave it a kiss, and
embraced it. He put it close to his heart. Nobody else saw this,
because it was for just a second. "
It is a photo that has been seen around the world and
that shows graphically how the John Paul II experienced pain in his
final years. It is an image that captures the personality of the
pope, as seen by one of the people who knew him best.
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