Thousands Remember Pope John Paul II
Sunday, April 02, 2006

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI recalled the legacy and final days of suffering of Pope John Paul II on the first anniversary of his death Sunday, saying the late pope lived out until the very end his mission to guide the Catholic Church.

"John Paul II died as he always lived, animated by the indomitable courage of faith, abandoning himself to God and entrusting himself to holy Mary," Benedict said in his weekly Sunday address.

He spoke to tens of thousands of people who packed St. Peter's Square, many of them toting the red and white flags of John Paul's native Poland.

The anniversary culminates Sunday night with a prayer vigil in the square to mark the exact time of John Paul's passing at 9:37 p.m. City officials said they expected between 100,000 and 150,000 to attend, including about 10,000 people from Poland.
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