Finnish Catholics grieve the passing of Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)

Services today and Books of Condolence opened

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The death in Rome on Saturday evening of Pope John Paul II also prompted grief among Finland's small, 9,000-strong Roman Catholic community and generated responses from leading Finnish political figures and churchmen.
      A special series of services will be held this evening in St. Henry's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Helsinki, and books of condolence have been opened to the public.
      An image of the late pontiff, draped with black ribbons, was on display in St. Henry's for Evening Mass on Sunday, and before the service began a number of people of all denominations had been into the church to pay their respects.
     
As most of our readers will be aware, Finland is a predominantly Lutheran country, but His Holiness Pope John Paul II visited Finland in June 1989 on one of his many pilgrimages, taking part in an ecumenical service in Turku Cathedral and celebrating Mass in the Helsinki Ice Arena.
      The Finnish Roman Catholic Church has parishes in Helsinki, Turku, Jyväskylä, Tampere, Kouvola, and Oulu.
     
The Pope's demise on Saturday prompted remarks from leading Finnish political figures and churchmen. President Tarja Halonen noted that with his passing the world has lost a powerful proponent of peace and unity.
      "During his long tenure in the Holy See, Pope John Paul II did not remain as a distant figure leading the Church from behind the walls of The Vatican, but met people, travelled around the world, and spoke tirelessly on behalf of peace and ecumenical coming together in dialogue."
      "Pope John Paul II leaves behind him a strong Catholic Church with a great significance around the world", said Halonen.
      She commented that his death touches not merely followers of the Roman Catholic Church, but all humanity. Her words were echoed by the Archbishop of the Evangelic Lutheran Church of Finland Jukka Paarma, who met the pontiff in 1999 shortly after his [Paarma's] appointment, and most recently in January 2005, in the company of Achbishop Leo, leader of the Finnish Orthodox Church.
     
The 84-year-old Polish-born pontiff died in his private apartments in The Vatican on Saturday night. The offical cause of death was septic shock and irreversible heart failure.
      His condition had been grave for some days, after an infection caused his already frail health - Pope John Paul II had suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years and was also the victim of an assassination attempt in 1981- to turn critical. He reportedly refused to be taken to hospital, preferring to meet his end in his own bed surrounded by his closest Polish aides and staff.
      The task of appointing a new leader for the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics will begin after a nine-day period of mourning in the tiny city state. The Pope will be buried later this week, on Friday, before which his body will lie in state in St. Peter's Basilica. It has been estimated that up to one million people may converge on Rome to pay their respects. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre Party) will lead the Finnish delegation at the funeral ceremony.
     
A separate Recitation of the Rosary will be held in St. Henrik's Catholic Cathedral in Helsinki today, Monday, at 17.00, marking the passing on Saturday evening of His Holiness Pope John Paul II
     
The Rosary will be followed at 18.00 by a Pontifical Mass celebrated by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Helsinki, the Most Reverend Józef Wróbel. Mass will then be followed by an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
     
A Book of Condolence has been opened for those who wish to mark the passing of the Holy Father, and will be available at the Bishop's Residence at Rehbinderintie 21, 00150 Helsinki, on Monday, April 4th, from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., and on Tuesday, April 5th, from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Rehbinderintie is in the Eira district of the capital.
     
Another Book of Condolence has been opened at the Polish Embassy in Helsinki (Armas Lindgrenintie 21), and individuals can sign the book and leave comments from Monday to Wednesday between the hours of 10.00 and 12.00, and from 14.00 to 16.00.


Links:
  Catholic Church in Finland: Diocese of Helsinki

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