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Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
April 7,
2005
SERBIAN
ORTHODOX CHURCH AND STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO DELEGATIONS
TO TRAVEL TOGETHER TO ROME
 The
delegations of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the state union
of Serbia and Montenegro, comprised of Metropolitan Jovan of Zagreb
and Ljubljana and Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Valjevo, and
Serbia and Montenegro president Svetozar Marovic and minister
for foreign affairs Vuk Draskovic, respectively, will be traveling
together this evening to Rome, where they will attend the funeral
of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica tomorrow.
His Eminence
Metropolitan Jovan commented that according to evangelical principles,
we have the duty of “rejoicing with the joyous and sharing the
pain of the bereaved”. Metropolitan Jovan emphasized that our
Church delegation will be going to the Vatican to pay its respects
to “a great and charismatic Pope who traveled tirelessly around
the world and spoke of the necessity for all people to live in
peace and for all people to be free”.
“Continuing
what was begun at the Second Vatican Council by Pope John XXIII,
who was called the Good Pope because he carried out great changes
in the Roman Catholic Church and opened the door to cooperation
with the Eastern Church, and what Pope Paul VI turned into deed
by visiting the Holy Land and meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch
Athinagoras, Pope John Paul II transformed into his pilgrimage
for the glory of peace and against all wars, for cooperation in
all areas, especially between different confessions,” said Metropolitan
Jovan today in the Belgrade Patriarchate before departing for
Rome.
 Assessing
the interfaith meetings in Assisi established by the late Pope
John Paul II as especially significant, Metropolitan Jovan emphasized
that only a great visionary who sincerely believed in what he
was doing and in the power of faith could gather all the religious
leaders, including Jews and Muslims at the time of the greatest
clashes and crises between these two confessions, placing them
at the same table of love.
“That is why
I, having met him under such circumstances, experienced Pope John
Paul II as a great charismatic Pope who could gather the masses
around his ideas and move the entire world,” said Metropolitan
Jovan. Emphasizing the “political farsightedness” and “recognition
of life’s realities” on the part of the reposed head of the Roman
Catholic Church, Metropolitan Jovan said that his “mission of
peace” and great political influence in the world as a head of
state could not be denied despite the dogmatic differences that
exist between the Eastern and Western Christian churches.
Emphasizing
that he believes that the enormous importance of Pope John Paul
II for the entire world is also confirmed by the millions of pilgrims
wishing to pay their last respects, as well as by the state delegations
that will escort him to his eternal home, Metropolitan Jovan said
that even as the Pope lies in state he has sent the world an important
message “showing all of us by his example how to die”.
PATRIARCH
PAVLE ATTENDS MASS
FOR POPE JOHN PAUL II OF ROME OF BLESSED REPOSE
 Last
night a mass for Pope John Paul II of blessed repose was served
in the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Among
those present was His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle accompanied
by His Grace Bishop Porfirije of Jegar.
The mass was
served by Most Rev. Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar of Belgrade with
the Apostolic Nuncio to Belgrade, Most Rev. Archbishop Eugenio
Sbarbara and Monsignor Djuro Dzudzar, with the concelebration
of all Roman Catholic clergy of the Archbishopric of Belgrade.
 Patriarch
Pavle addressed those present with prayers that the Lord may be
merciful toward Pope John Paul II, that the Pope may be among
those whom the Lord recognizes as his faithful servants, and “that
the Lord may help us, too, when we find ourselves on the other
side”. After Patriarch Pavle’s address the cathedral was filled
with strong and lasting applause.
The commemoration
of the Pope’s works and accomplishments included many speakers,
followed by reading of the poetry of the late Pope John Paul II,
and the singing of his verses set to music.
The
service was also attended by representatives of the Slovak Evangelistic
Church, the Jewish community, the Islamic religious community,
Serbian Assembly speaker Predrag Markovic, Serbian minister of
religions Milan Radulovic, members of the diplomatic corps, and
eminent figures from public life.
[Serbian
Translation Services]
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