wfn.org | Statement Upon The Death Of Pope John Paul II

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 2, 2005

Statement Upon The Death Of Pope John Paul II

"For if we have been united with Christ in a death like his,
we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like
his." (Romans 6:5)

After keeping vigil with so many around the globe, the news
of the death of Pope John Paul II brings me profound
sadness.  Throughout his pastoral ministry, Pope John Paul
II served our Lord and the Church with great courage and
wisdom.  A man of the people, he championed the cause of
justice and peace not only for his native Poland but on
behalf of all creation.  He welcomed into his embrace people
of every creed and race, but his love for young people was a
special example of his care for all.

Pope John Paul II will go down in history for numerous
reasons, not least of which was the length of his service in
the papal ministry.  But his commitment to the ecumenical
movement will be remembered by many as the hallmark of his
ministry.  His many encyclicals contain numerous references
to his desire to advance the unity of Christ's Church and he
expressed longing for the day when all Christians could
share the Body and Blood of Christ together.  He even called
for ecumenical conversations about his own papal ministry
that he might better serve as a vehicle for Christian unity.

In particular, Lutherans will always remember John Paul II
as the pope who fostered an unprecedented growth in
Lutheran/Roman Catholic relations.  Healing the wounds laid
bare during the 16th century Reformation took on new meaning
as the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
was signed in 1999.  We live in new hope that the Spirit of
the Living Christ will continue that work and bring about an
even stronger relationship between the two church bodies.

The cause of unity was very much at the forefront as Pope
John Paul II warmly greeted me at The Vatican in 2003.	From
his deeply spiritual presence and his profound faith he
welcomed me as a brother in Christ and together we shared
our prayers that the Body of Christ might soon be one.

We give God thanks for the life and ministry of John Paul
II, and we pray that God will strengthen the people of the
Roman Catholic Church with the promise of Christ's
resurrection during this time of grief and remembrance.  We
also pray that God's Holy Spirit will guide the
deliberations of the College of Cardinals as they begin the
process of selecting a new pope.

Mark S. Hanson
President, Lutheran World Federation
Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news