May your memory be eternal, Pope John Paul II. May your memory be eternal. May your memory be eternal.

This Pope will not be remembered for being a saint, though I think it is all but certain that he will be remembered as such. Rather, he will primarily be remembered for calling others to sainthood.

With white knuckles did he grip the cross and maneuver it onto his shoulders, and the whole world marveled. With faith much larger than a mustard seed he saw atheistic tyrannies crumble and churches open their doors to a spiritually starved populace, and the world marveled. With love did he preach the faith of his fathers, calling others to put aside decadence and false idols of the flesh and accept the love of Christ, and the world marveled. With hope and fear did he await the life everlasting, comforted by the Scripture and the Holy Spirit's saving Grace, and the world marveled.

As an Orthodox Christian I look at him with particular gratitude. For close to a thousand years a deep and abiding Schism has separated brothers in Christ. There have been attempts at Re-Union in te past, but I look at all of them with discomfort. The East rushed into these dialogues under duress, fearful of the oncoming Turkish horde and motivated more by the Emperor's need of troops than the Church's need for her sons and daughters. The West seemed to approach these dialogues with no purer motives, seeking not union but increase of authority (how many times have I seen in the history books that the East was a rebellious child that needed to be disciplined and humbled! Witness the Council of Florence, where the filioque was inserted even into the Nicene Creed in the Greek language).

Now, the East enjoys some measure of peace. And Pope John Paul II approached the Orthodox with such unmistakable and genuine. In years past who ever think of a pope referring to the Catholics and Orthodox and the two lungs of the Church? Pope John Paul II approached the bishops in the East not as a father approaching his waywards sons but as an elder brother seeking reconciliation (for the Orthodox admit that, when Re-Union finally does come, the Patriarch of Rome will be first in honor).

I pray, Pope John Paul II, that you will intercede on behalf of the Church Militant and continue to work for the reconciliation of the ancient and holy sees. I pray that you will do so from a seat of honor in the wedding hall, at the table where the Bridegroom's Feast has been set.

Christ our Lord, grant rest to your servant John Paul among Your Saints, where there is no pain, sorrow or suffering, but everlasting life.

With the righteous who have reposed in Your peace, grant rest, Savior, to the soul of your servant John Paul, and bestow upon him the blessed life which is from You, merciful Lord.

Lord, remember Your servant John Paul who has fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection. Forgive him every transgression in thought, word or deed. Grant him peace and refreshment in the place of light where Your glory delights all the Saints. For You are the resurrection, the repose and the life of Your departed servant John Paul, and to You I give glory, now and forever. Amen.