Chancellor Schröder's letter of condolence on the death of Pope John Paul II

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder praised Pope John Paul II as someone who dedicated his life to a quest for peace: "He spoke out against war wherever there was a threat of war and he promoted peace and peaceful development in all parts of the world. In doing so, he embodied the best traditions of the Gospel," Schröder said on ARD television Sunday. He noted that John Paul II had contributed a great deal to the world and that his death constituted a significant loss to the international community.

Late Saturday evening (April 2), Schröder sent the following letter of condolence to the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger:

Your Eminence,

On behalf of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany as well as the citizens of my country I want to express to you our deep sorrow and condolences on the death of His Holiness, John Paul II.

For more than a quarter of a century Pope John Paul II was a highly respected and much loved leader of the Catholic Church who engaged in an untiring effort to promote peace, human rights, solidarity, and social justice. During his pontificate he helped to promote the peaceful unification of Europe in a variety of ways. He recurrently spoke out in favor of resolving the problems of mankind with wisdom and respect for the cultures and traditions of the different peoples of the world. Pope John Paul II wrote history; he changed our One World through his actions and through his impressive personality.

In view of the many bitter conflicts in the world His Holiness was always aware of how difficult and at the same time how indispensable it is to strive for the ideal of universal humanity. He frequently pointed out that the human family is a community brought together by destiny.

He rightly advocated that all nations should share a common responsibility for shaping our future. The commitment to peace that Pope John Paul II expressed with great clarity and persistence earned him respect and widespread recognition around the world.

The younger generation  was very close to Pope John Paul II's heart. International youth meetings, such as the one that will take place for the twentieth time in Cologne this year, are a direct result of his personal initiative. He made a point of addressing young people in his annual messages on the International Day of Peace as well as at peace rallies and prayer meetings. His Holiness saw young people as bearers of hope. They will carry his message forward.

Sincerely yours,

Gerhard Schröder

Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

April 2, 2005

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