Cardinal McCarrick on
Death of Pope John Paul II
He Led with a Clear Voice

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, recalled the legacy of Pope John Paul II in a letter to the priests and faithful of the Archdiocese of Washington:

“An extraordinary servant of God has gone home to the Lord he loved so well, and served with such remarkable dedication. Our sorrow is great as we mourn the death of Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. For more than a quarter of a century, he has guided the Universal Church with courage and wisdom, with strength and love.

“We will remember him for his many gifts of mind and heart, the warmth of his human touch, and his utter and complete devotion to the cause of human life and his constant witness to the dignity of the human person. His philosophical and theological insights, his pastoral care, his many travels, his outreach to the leaders of other faiths, his commitment to bringing freedom to the lands behind the Iron Curtain – all of these will always be marks of his enduring legacy, but it was his deep respect for the dignity of all human life that was at the heart of his every decision, every statement and every act.

“Perhaps his greatest legacy will be the clear voice with which he led the Church in understanding the true meaning of the Second Vatican Council. Over the years since the Council was held, many confusing interpretations arose. Pope John Paul II was the authentic witness of Vatican II for the guidance of the whole Church, first as a leading participant of that Ecumenical Council and then with his authority as Vicar of Christ.

“In a very personal way, I shall always remember him as a man of great kindness and extraordinary attention to people. I first met him nearly 30 years ago, before his election as pope when I was priest-secretary of the Servant of God, Cardinal Terence Cooke. When next I met him he was already the Holy Father. Remarkably he still remembered who I was and that I had served as the Cardinal’s secretary in New York. Our Spanish brothers and sisters call this “el don de gente” and he had it with grace and joyfulness until the very end of his holy life.

“Let us pray for the repose of his great soul. I have to believe that there will be great joy in heaven on the return home of the Vicar of Christ.”

Cardinal McCarrick will travel to Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II and the election of his successor.