April 02, 2005

Prime Minister Paul Martin today expressed his deep sadness at the news of the death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II.:

"On behalf of the government and the people of Canada, I wish to pay tribute to the remarkable life and work of His Holiness Pope John Paul II. In his 26 years as the head of the Roman Catholic church, this noble son of Poland achieved an extraordinary impact, not only as a source of spiritual guidance, but as a true apostle of peace.

His wide-ranging travels, even at an advanced age and despite ill health, were an expression of his determination to use every opportunity to promote international reconciliation and respect for democratic values and human rights. History will also record that John Paul II made a vital contribution to the democratic transformation of central and eastern Europe, and to the end of the Cold War.

The Pope's global vision included Canada, and he repeatedly expressed his interest in our country. His empathy with the aspirations of our Aboriginal groups, symbolized by his special trip to the North in 1987 to meet our Aboriginal communities, was particularly noteworthy. Unforgettable also were his visits to Quebec, as well as his participation in the World Youth Day in Toronto in July of 2002, which inspired hundreds of thousands of young people with the strength and clarity of his moral vision.

For a quarter century, Pope John Paul II served as a symbol of love and faith, peace and compassion. Now he is at rest. Throughout his papacy, and in his final days, we were all – regardless of religious belief – privileged and moved to bear witness to the grace, courage and resolve of this remarkable man. Our grief today is the grief of the world."