2014-04-28 L’Osservatore Romano - John Paul II was ever obedient “to the Gospel of Jesus, and for this, he was loved”. Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Archpriest of the Vatican Basilica, emotionally recalled this, on Monday morning, 28 April, at the Mass of Thanksgiving for the Canonization. Thousands of faithful, many from Poland, filled St Peter's Square for the Mass at which the Cardinal. In his homily the Archpriest recalled the great moments of the Pontificate of Karol Wojtyła.

He began by pointing out various teachings which came out of John Paul II's holiness, especially his courage “to speak openly of faith in Jesus in an age of 'silent apostasy from the satisfied man who lives like God does not exist'”. Cardinal Comastri also spoke of his boldness “in defending the family which is God's plan, written clearly in the book of life”.

The Mass of Thanksgiving for the Canonization of John XXIII was celebrated in the Church of Santi Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso, where Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was ordained a bishop in 1925. Presiding at Mass was Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, Archbishop emeritus of Milan. At the celebration Bishop Beschi of Bergamo read a letter addressed to Pope Francis thanking him for his decision to proclaim the Polish Pope and the Pope from Bergamo saints. “Let us bless the Lord”, he said, “for the gift of the sainthood of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. The announcement of this gift before the Church and the whole world nourishes the hope which comes from the Gospel and from those who witness him”. At the same time, he added, this announcement “urges us to search – passionately and with profound joy – and to welcome the sowing of the Gospel which happens by way of its witnesses and by nurturing what has been sown in each of our lives, in the specific vocation and mission and in the life of all our communities”.