For most of my life, the Holy Father in Rome was Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla). His pontificate lasted from 1978 to 2005.
It was early morning in Manila when the news of his death was announced on TV. He died on 02 April 2005. I was in the middle of troubled times when that happened and I remember praying to him, asking him to help me from heaven to get through my crisis.
I survived 2005, thank God. And of course, special thanks to Pope John Paul II, Padre Pio (who the late pope had canonised in 2002), and family and friends who helped me, whether they knew it or not.
Earlier this year, the Catholic Church attributed the sudden recovery of French nun Sister Marie Simon-Pierre from Parkinson's disease to Pope John Paul II. This miracle has led to the recognition of his true holiness.
Today, on the Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker, Pope John Paul II is one step closer to being declared a saint, as his beatification unfolds in Rome.
We can remember him by living his motto -- Totus Tuus (totally yours).
"Totus tuus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt" ("I am all yours, and all that I have is yours")
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