My last “Audience” with Pope John Paul II - Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio

Posted: 13th April 2005

Arch. Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio

Phnom Penh (C.S.C.) - From Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio/Delegate
I retain the emotional feelings of the last “audience” that I had with the Pope John Paul II some hours ago in the Clementine Chapel, where the Great Pope and Father was lying in state. The Pontiff remitted his gentle soul in the hands of the Merciful Father on Saturday the 2nd of April 2005, at 9:37 P.M in Rome.

Even the contours of his face, relaxed and serene, demonstrated the joy of the “witness of faith”, which perfectly reached the end of the temporal race to receive the incorruptible crown of glory. The crosier in his hands and the red Liturgical vestments that covered the mortal remains of the diseased Sovereign Pontiff indicated this witness-martyr that marked the entire life of Pope Wojtila, who in fact did not hesitate to put in every effort and energy as a messenger of the Good News, defender of peace and of human rights all over the world.

My spiritual link with the diseased John Paul II is strongly marked in the phrase “Nolite Timere”, which I adopted as my Episcopal motto. The heartfelt appeal of John Paul II, made with a great enthusiasm in Saint Peter’s Square on the 16th of October 1978 – “DO NOT BE AFRAID… OPEN WIDE THE DOORS FOR CHRIST!” – re-echos still today.

The words repeated on several occasions by the Divine Master to the terrified and disturbed disciples became the “leit motif” and the guiding principle of the Pontificate of John Paul II. With great reverence and devotion, and as a sign of profound gratitude to the Supreme Pontiff, I decided to engrave that appeal as the motto of my Episcopal ministry: Nolite Timere! Do not be afraid!

The 6th of January 1999 was a day of great spiritual joy as I received, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, the invaluable gift of Episcopal ordination from the hands of the Vicar of Christ and Successor of Saint Peter. By that I was included in the apostolic succession as a member of the Apostolic College. As a father, John Paul II transmitted to me the courage, the zeal, the dedication to be Pastor of the Church and, in a particular way, His Personal Representative in order to help to carry out His paternal and loving solicitude for all the peoples and communities that I would meet in the world.

His unwavering dedication and sacrifice of a Pastor, ready to totally give himself “till the last blood” is a constant lesson to be imitated by all and a precious encouragement for the Mission entrusted to me as an Apostolic Nuncio.

His immense love for Our Lady the Mother of God is so clearly visible in the “Totus Tuus”, of his Pontifical Coat of Arm and it makes us to understand the greatness of a Pontificate guided by a Marian passion.

Today, we gratefully raise our fervent prayers of thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for having given us this great and loving Pope, for these 27 years. May the Lord, Father of Mercy accept him in His Eternal Kingdom and reward him with the crown of Glory and eternal peace.
Thank you very much Pope John Paul II!

Your devoted son
Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio
Apostolic Nuncio/Delegate

Article Source: C.S.C. and Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio