In Poetry, Pope Reflects on Death and Successor

April 8, 2005 — -- Millions are now mourning the death of Pope John Paul II and scholars are evaluating his papacy, but the pontiff shared thoughts about his own death, the conclave of cardinals, and the selection of his successor in "The Poetry of John Paul II -- Roman Triptych: Meditations."

In a book of three linked poems, Pope John Paul II reflects on his papacy, and on God as the beginning and end of all creation.

Here are two passages from the second of the three pieces: "Meditations on the Book of Genesis: At the Threshold of the Sistine Chapel."

"From dust you came, and to dust you shall return";

What had shape is now shapeless.

What was alive is now dead.

What was beautiful is now the ugliness of decay.And yet I do not altogether die,

what is indestructible in me remains!...

What is imperishable in me

now stands face to face before Him Who Is!

...

It is here, beneath this wondrous Sistine profusion of color

that the Cardinals assemble --

the community responsible for the legacy of the

keys of the Kingdom.

They come here, to this very place.

And once more Michelangelo wraps them in his vision.

"In him we live and move and have our being."

The colors of the Sistine will then speak the

word of the Lord:

Tu es Petrus (Mt 16:18) -- once heard by Simon, son of John.

"To you I will give the keys of the Kingdom."

During the Conclave Michelangelo must teach them --

Do not forget: Omnia nuda et aperta sunt ante oculos Eius.

You who see all, point to him!

He will point him out ...

From The Poetry of John Paul II -- Roman Triptych: Meditations, © 2003, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc.-- Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

For more information on the writings of Pope John Paul II visit the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Web site at www.usccb.org.