wfn.org | Pope John Paul II Dies - LWF Statement Following Pope's Death

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

Pope John Paul II Dies
LWF Hails a "Truly Remarkable Human Life," and "Highly
Significant Pontificate

GENEVA, 2 April 2005 (LWI) * The death of Pope John Paul II today,
marks the end not only of a truly remarkable human life but also of a
highly significant pontificate of the Roman Catholic Church at a crucial
stage of human history. This is the message contained in a statement of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) released today, following the
pope's death this evening.

Pope John Paul II died at 21.37 hours today, aged 84 in his private
apartment following heart and kidneys' failure after a urinary tract
infection, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls announced in a
written statement. Despite his precarious health, the pope had decided
to remain in his residence at the Vatican rather than return to Gemelli
hospital in Rome, where he had been hospitalized twice since February.

In his statement, LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko,
recognizes that the Roman Catholic during the pontificate of John Paul
II, "contributed substantially to major ecumenical processes,
particularly to the network of bilateral doctrinal dialogues," of
which it has been a strong advocate since the Second Vatican Council.

Bilateral relations between the LWF and Roman Catholic Church "have
continued to develop fruitfully," in the course of John Paul II's
pontificate, Noko says. He singles out the Joint Declaration on the
Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) signed between both worldwide church
bodies on 31 October 1999 in Augsburg, Germany, as a milestone in this
relationship. The JDDJ, Noko notes, "represents a significant
ecumenical breakthrough reaching beyond the bilateral relationship of
the signing partners directly involved.

Noko also lauds the pope's strong focus on personal relationships,
his deep spirituality in the exercise of overwhelming responsibilities,
and his constant search for the most appropriate ways for the Roman
pontiff to serve the unity of the church. He cites the encyclical "Ut
Unum Sint," in which John Paul II invited bishops from different
Christian traditions worldwide to participate in discussing how the
papacy could best fulfill the ministry of Christian unity.

Whereas for many churches the papacy lies beyond what they could adopt
for themselves, many Christians would at the same time recognize that
this pope truly exemplified a pastoral ministry of unity, Noko says.

On the pope's travels to different parts of the world, "the
eucharistic message of reconciliation in Christ was made explicit in
striking ways," during public celebration of mass at altars erected in
the midst of social and political complexities, although only Roman
Catholics could partake of the Eucharist as such. Noko says the
ecumenical difficulties related to eucharistic fellowship remain an
urgent matter for the churches in the search for Christian unity.

The LWF General Secretary pays tribute to John Paul II for recognizing
the potential for peace in a faith-based approach. The pope was able, in
unique ways, to bring together different religious leaders in common
reflection and prayerful commitment to the cause of peace all over the
world, Noko says.

The LWF General Secretary says this pope will also be remembered for
his deep and active involvement in issues of social justice, and the
promotion of "the free and common exercise of religious faith as a
fundamental human right." His pontificate "has been one of
relentless search for ways in which the Roman Catholic Church could help
to alleviate suffering from political and economic oppression, from
racial and social discrimination, and from poverty, hunger and
illness," worldwide.

May the Holy Spirit use the legacy of Pope John Paul II in accordance
with the divine purpose, Noko concludes.

Karol J*zef Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his election to the
papacy 16 October 1978, was born on 18 May 1920 in Wadowice, near
Cracow, southern Pola
nd. He was ordained as a priest in 1946, and was
consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Cracow in 1958. He was nominated
Archbishop of Cracow in 1964, and made Cardinal in 1967. As head of the
worldwide Roman Catholic Church, John Paul II, the first non-Italian
pope for more than 450 years, was the spiritual leader of over one
billion Christians.

The full text of the statement of LWF General Secretary Noko follows:

Statement of the Lutheran World Federation General Secretary, Rev. Dr
Ishmael Noko on the Death of Pope John Paul II

The death of Pope John Paul II marks the end not only of a truly
remarkable human life but also of a highly significant pontificate of
the Roman Catholic Church at a crucial stage of human history.

John Paul II was elected pope at a time when the Communist systems of
Eastern Europe were still firmly in place. His role in the changes that
would lift the Iron Curtain and open up Europe's borders remains a
significant contribution to the region's and global history.

The conservative stance of John Paul II has raised questions about this
pope's dedication to the ecumenical movement. It must be recognized,
however, that the Roman Catholic Church throughout his pontificate has
contributed substantially to major ecumenical processes, particularly to
the network of bilateral doctrinal dialogues, of which the Roman
Catholic Church has been a strong advocate since the Second Vatican
Council.

Pope John Paul II will be remembered for his strong focus on personal
relationships and for his  deep spirituality in the exercise of daunting
responsibilities. In his constant search for the most appropriate ways
for the Roman pontiff to serve the unity of the church, John Paul II, in
his encyclical "Ut Unum Sint," invited bishops from different
Christian traditions worldwide to participate in discussing how the
papacy could best fulfill the ministry of Christian unity. While for
many churches the very institution of the papacy lies beyond what they
could adopt for themselves, many Christians would at the same time
recognize that John Paul II truly exemplified a pastoral ministry of
unity.

For the Lutheran World Federation, which has been in international
theological dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church since 1967, the
bilateral relations between our worldwide church bodies have continued
to develop fruitfully in the course of John Paul II's pontificate. The
achievement of the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification,
and its signing celebration in Augsburg, Germany on 31 October 1999,
represent a milestone in this relationship. The Joint Declaration
expresses agreement in basic truths pertaining to the biblical doctrine
of justification, which was a central area of contention at the time of
the Reformation. It represents a significant ecumenical breakthrough
reaching beyond the bilateral relationship of the signing partners
directly involved.

At the present stage of the ecumenical movement, it is not easy to see
how substantial further progress can be achieved globally and how
communion relations can be established between the Roman Catholic Church
and other churches. In this area new initiatives from the side of the
Roman Catholic Church will be required in the future.

>From the beginning of his pontificate, John Paul II was deeply involved
with issues of social justice, and has	actively promoted the free and
common exercise of religious faith as a fundamental human right. As the
enormous social challenges of globalization have become increasingly
clear, John Paul II has appropriately warned the world of the dangerous
consequences of liberal market forces.

The pontificate of John Paul II has been one of relentless search for
ways in which the Roman Catholic Church, in different regions of the
world, could help to alleviate suffering from political and economic
oppression, from racial and social discrimination, and from poverty,
hunger and illness. He has never shunned away from difficult and
high-risk challenges, often a
gainst the advice of his entourage. Until
the last days of his life, he personally involved himself in attempts to
resolve conflicts especially where religious motives were involved.
Indeed, the pope has voiced great concern about current global tensions,
portrayed by some as conflict between the Muslim-Arab world and the
Christian West.

Recognizing the potential for peace in a faith-based approach, John
Paul II was able to bring together, in ways no one else has managed,
different religious leaders in common reflection and prayerful
commitment to the cause of peace, focusing openly on the world's
excruciating suffering as a result of wars and countless conflicts.

His travels took him to many corners of the world, celebrating mass
publicly at altars erected in the midst of social and political
complexities. The eucharistic message of reconciliation in Christ was
made explicit in striking ways, although only Roman Catholics were
invited to partake of the Eucharist as such.

The ecumenical difficulties related to eucharistic fellowship remain an
urgent matter in the search for Christian unity, to which churches are
called to focus their attention to enable courageous steps of faith in
the years to come.

In connection with the turn from the Second to the Third Millennium,
Pope John Paul II encouraged all Christian churches to seek repentance
and conversion in the face of all shortcomings, so as to enter the new
millennium reconciled and strengthened by Christ. The Day of Prayer for
Pardon for the Sins of Sons and Daughters of the Church, was a striking
event of the Jubilee Year, where John Paul II provided spiritual
guidance to contrition under the Cross of Christ.

John Paul II leaves a legacy of the most traveled pope in history until
now. As St Paul was unable to fulfill his fourth missionary journey to
Spain, John Paul II was also unable to complete highly significant
travels he had hoped to accomplish. But his life  was in a genuine sense
an arduous pilgrimage,	with enormous physical and spiritual demands. It
is well known he daily concentrated in prayer for hours, at home or on
travel, seeking the mind of God. In this way also, John Paul II set an
example for persons in all positions of spiritual leadership and indeed
for leaders and believers in all areas of life.

May the Holy Spirit use the legacy of Pope John Paul II in accordance
with the divine purpose.

Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko
General Secretary

Geneva
2 April 2005

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of
nearly 66 million Christians. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be
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