Of the two Saints, our generation practically witnessed the emergence of Pope John Paul II in the world stage and saw how this Polish Pope changed world history and many of us Catholics with his message and acts of love, faith, unity; and a life of simplicity and humility.
During his quarter-century papacy from 1978-2005, John Paul helped topple communism through his support of Poland’s Solidarity movement. He is also credited for invigorated a new generation of Catholics by launching the wildly popular World Youth Days and for travelling the world to reach out to the youth and to all people of all faith and culture.
Pope John Paul is also remembered for his defense of core teachings of the Church and for bringing the Vatican closer to the people. Even while he was alive, people already saw him as having the makings of a Saint.
As a former reporter of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, I never got the chance to cover Pope John Paul II during his visits to the Philippines, but I did get the chance to pray over his tomb at the Vatican grottoes during a family European tour in 1996.
Travelling with my wife Ann and daughter Arizza, Rome was the first stop to a trip that took us to London, France, Belgium, Prague, Germany Switzerland and many other places in Europe.
Back then, the tomb of the John Paul II was the biggest attraction for tourists who have grown to love the People’s Pope.
Entering the grottoes under St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, I was flabbergasted by the utter pomp and pageantry of many of the tombs of Popes through the ages, what with their almost life-like sculptures bearing the images of the Popes and the expensive marble materials taken from the best places in Europe throughout the Vatican’s long history.
Amid the flashy display by the many tombs at the Vatican’s grottoes, the one of Pope John Paul II stood out not for its grant and ornate image, but for its utter simplicity and the fact that it was buried under the ground. Most of the sarcophagi of the other Popes were built above ground, with their images sculpted on top of them.
His tomb is simple with a marble stone on top with his name engraved and a picture of Mary and the child Jesus flanked by two angels on the wall behind it. Inside, the great Pope lies in a simple and unpainted wooded coffin made of cypress wood, as he had requested.
As head of the Roman Catholic Church and one of the world’s most powerful men, Pope John Paul II could have had any artist available at his disposable to make an impressive tomb to last for centuries, but he did not.
For his utter simplicity as man of God, I truly believe Pope John Paul II to be one true Saint. He lived a simple life both in life and in death.
Saint John Paul II, please pray for all of us.