April 2, 2005

GENEVA – 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

Lutheran World Information