Asia united in St Peter's to say goodbye to the Pope
Vatican City (AsiaNews) They came from different parts of Asia, but this morning they stood side by side in the human flow that leads to St Peter's Basilica and the final goodbye to the Pope.
They are not all Christians, but no one comes out of mere curiosity.
John Paul changed the lives of many of them; he was a model that inspired others.
AsiaNews collected testimonials, memories and hopes of some of the many Asians who today paid their last respects to the Pope who always held them dearly in his heart.
Padre Andy Lee Miri, 29, Sarawak, Malaysia: It's a miracle to see all these people not complain. They put up with the heat and the fatigue from their long journey; it is as if they are on their Way of the Cross, a smile on their face.
It's as if they wanted to give in return to the Pope a bit of the suffering he quietly endured for so long.
From him, we learnt not be afraid, as he often said, not to fear who we are, but continue instead to follow Christ who is our strength.
Haiko, 20, Seoul, South Korea: Going inside St Peter's [Basilica] today I saw the Pope for the first time and felt a great joy. It was as if he had spoken to me. Even if he is no longer alive, he is still communicating with the faithfulthe people coming is proof of that.
Raja Sunward, 34, Kerala, India: My friends and I have been in Rome on a holiday for some days now, but when the Pope passed away we were among the first to go to the basilica to pay our respects.
Since Sunday we have been coming back every day. The Pope who spoke about peace with the person who tried to kill him taught us that intolerance and violence are useless.
Theresa Dompor, 13, Filipina living in New Jersey, USA: I love the Pope. He taught me to forgive. He forgave everybody whatever their faults. He even did that to the man who tried to kill him.
Sujanthra Somchay, 58, Bangkok, Thailand: His love embraced everyone, everywhere. I am not Christian but Buddhist. I am here on purpose to express my respect for a man who did not discriminate, who made the peoples of the world feel united under the sign of hope.
Harvin, 27, Manila, Philippines: I was on a holiday with my parents in France and as soon we heard we rushed to Rome. For me, John Paul II was a spiritual guide; from him I learnt the value of family and respect for live, things he strenuously fought for.
Jun Yeup Kim, 34 and his wife Hye Yoen Kim, 31, South Korea: What this Pope leaves as his legacy in Korea is his prayer for peace between the North and the South. I hope that thanks to his efforts peace can break out between the two states. We must make our own contribution to that by praying and loving one another as Christ's example showed us.
Zhang Xiaodong, 32, Shanghai, China: I am not a believer. We were in the Netherlands with friends and thought to come down to pay our respects to this great man who was so central and historic for the whole of humanity: the Pope.
Hemmi Teruo, 45, Tokyo, Japan: I am Buddhist and I am here on holiday with friends. But we shall line up to go and see the Pope. This is an historic moment; the value of this man and his importance for human kind are unquestionable. (MA-VF-LF)
.png)
14/04/2005
