'The people's Pope'

Archbishop Joseph Mercieca described the Pope as a man of the people who took an interest in everyone he met.

"He had a striking personality, in the sense that he endeared you to him. He was intelligent, could read a situation well and had a sound knowledge of philosophy and theology...

"He was committed to the priesthood and sought to find people in his diocese wherever they were; to encourage them to keep their families together, to remain Christians. His interest was the welfare of others - at all costs," Mgr Mercieca said.

"Look at how many places this Pope travelled to and he even risked his life. But he did it willingly as long as he saw people and spoke to them as well as their leaders - whoever they were - and he said whatever he felt was right, even if he disagreed with what they were doing..."

The Archbishop also paid tribute to the manner in which the Pope had handled his public suffering: "He always had the courage to admit he was struggling; he always had the courage to show he was in pain. Why? Because he believed that suffering has its own value if you look at it from a viewpoint of faith. And he himself used to say that suffering is a manner in which you purify yourself and transmit God's message... people have appreciated it because when they see a person suffering but still trying to be with them they mark him out as a man of courage who believes that good isn't just what you do but also what emerges from your heart."

Mgr Mercieca first met Karol Wojtyla when he was still a cardinal in 1978 and recounts that he had agreed to visit Malta to take part in a Catholic Action activity.

"I got to know about this cardinal and had a good impression of him. Then one day I saw him and said: 'Your Eminence, why don't you come to Malta to take part in a manifestation by Catholic Action?' He accepted and he wrote me a letter confirming he was coming. Two weeks later he was elected Pope so he failed to make it!"

The Archbishop said the most striking thing about the Pope was his affable nature and ability to put others at ease. "You never felt awkward being with him and from the very start you felt that he was taking an interest in what you were saying. And that he would do everything to find out what you wanted and see how he could help."

Mgr Mercieca said the Pope was impressed with the love shown to him by the Maltese: both their love for him as a Pope but also as a person. "He was very good with people. He would play with children, comfort the elderly and if he could he would talk to everybody. Everyone understood that he wanted to talk to people.

"He always mentioned how much he enjoyed his visit to Malta; in particular the reception he received in Grand Harbour when there were so many boats and ships. He told me he would always remember that. He always had very close ties with our diocese."

Mgr Mercieca also paid tribute to the Pope's commitment to prayer and said he practised what he preached. "It struck me that he was always a man of God because he was a man of prayer; and this meant he would be kneeling down in his chapel. He believed in what Mother Teresa once said that if you have a lot to do, pray a lot. It so often happens, to me for example, that I spend time on my work at the expense of prayer. And that's not a good thing."

One of his biggest contributions to the Church, according to the Archbishop, was the fact that the Pope made himself accessible to everyone.

"When it came to the human person, he was courageous and used to speak plainly in front of everyone - even those who treated people badly - and left them in no doubt as to what he was thinking. And people appreciated him for this. In the world we live in today, one cannot say that everyone has the courage to tell the truth because everyone likes to scratch one another's back."

Mgr Mercieca said the Pope recently insisted there was a moral obligation to help sick people and give them sustenance, even by artificial means. "He said this was a duty. Not everyone agreed with this but the Pope had the courage to say it."

The Archbishop said the Pope was a saintly man because he prayed so much and used to spend a lot of time in the chapel before starting his day's work.

When asked whether he should be beatified, Mgr Mercieca said: "That is not for me to say. Time will tell."

On the Pope's successor, he was also non-committal: "We should pray to the Lord and things are now in his hands. Every time the Lord has sent the appropriate person. Just like the Lord sends us fruit that is appropriate for each season, he also sends the appropriate person at the appropriate time."