What do you say in memoriam to the only pope you’ve ever known your whole life?

For me the most suitable two words would be: Thank you.

Thank you for being such a force of progress in the past 26 years. Thank you for fighting against Communism and for showing us that no one can do without God or religion. Thank you for all your visits all across the world - especially to Singapore. I still remember how hard it rained when you came… but no one cared - because your presence meant more to us. Thank you for sticking to your morals, for not breaking, even in the face of strong liberal views. Thank you for standing up for those who had no rights - especially for the unborn. Thank you for showing us that a good Pope doesn’t have to be Italian. Thank you for supporting the youth. Thank you for championing us, for believing in us all through the years, for the World Youth Day celebrations that you began. I will always remember your words to all the young people at the last World Youth Day in Toronto, in that fatherly voice that has come to represent you so much: “John Paul II, he loves you!”

I love you, John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II
1920-2005