Speaking at a ceremony to mark the anniversary of John Paul II's death, retiring Rome Cardinal Camillo Ruini said that the late pontiff's intense relationship with God was profound and in a certain sense "he had already seen the Lord".Marking the conclusion of the diocesan phase of the beatification process for Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Ruini described the late pope's faith was that "of a man who, in a certain sense, had already seen the Lord, and who had made the direct experience of the mysterious and salvific presence of God in his spirit and in his life," Zenit reports.
The solemn opening of the diocesan phase took place June 28, 2005, less than three months after the Pope's death.
The Vatican phase will now begin with the elaboration of a report to be prepared by a collaborator of the postulator of the cause, under the guidance of a relator of the Congregation for Saints' Causes.
In his homily during the closing ceremony, Cardinal Ruini, the vicar of Benedict XVI for Rome, commented on John Paul II's intense spiritual life.
The cardinal said that Karol Wojtyla's spiritual life was "already strong, intimate and profound in his boyhood, and that [it] never ceased to develop and grow stronger, producing fruits in all dimensions of his life."
Cardinal Ruini added that God never sheltered Wojtyla from the trials of life, but rather was constantly "associating him ever and anew to the cross of his Son ... giving him the courage to love the cross, and the spiritual intelligence to see, through the cross, the face of the Father."
"All those who knew him, from near or only from afar, were struck by the richness of his humanity, by his complete fulfillment as a man," the cardinal said.
"But even more illuminating and important is the fact that such fullness of humanity coincided, in the end, with his relationship with God, in other words with his sanctity."
Cardinal Ruini also recalled the last moments of John Paul II.With the help of those present in his apartment, John Paul II prayed "all the daily prayers: adoration, meditation and he even anticipated the office of the readings for Sunday," said the cardinal.
The cardinal continued: "Then, he said with an exceedingly weak voice to Sister Tobiana Sobotka, his authentic guardian angel: 'Let the Lord come.'"Afterward, he entered into a coma, and in his room the vigil Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday was celebrated."
The cardinal said that Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, John Paul II's personal secretary, managed to give the dying Pope "drops of the blood of Christ."
In another ceremony, Pope Benedict also emphasised the the late pope's experience of the Cross the Vatican Information Service added.
"The fruitfulness of [Pope John Paul's] testimony depended upon the Cross," Pope Benedict said.
"In the life of Karol Wojtyla the word 'cross' was not just a word. Ever since his infancy and youth, he had experienced pain and death."And, "particularly with the slow but implacable progress of his illness which little by little deprived him of everything, his existence became a complete offering to Christ."
The process of beatification passes now to the Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes, whose prefect is Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins.
The cardinal told Vatican Radio today "that John Paul II was dispensed from the five-year waiting period after death, prescribed by canon law, to begin the cause of beatification, but was not dispensed from the process."
Cardinal Saraiva Martins said: "Therefore, the Vatican dicastery proceeds now to review all the documentation that has arrived to us, following the paths indicated by the juridical prescripts.
"The prescripts of canon law must be respected."
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