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The Vice President of India, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, on behalf of the people of India and the Government, as also on his own behalf, paid respectful homage to the Pope John Paul II by laying a wreath on his mortal remains in Vatican City today. At that time, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Development of North East, Shri P.R. Kyndiah and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Oscar Fernandes accompanied him. Smt. Margaret Alva, ex. M.P. and Ms. Mabel Rebello, ex. M.P. and Shri K.M. Mani, Minister of the Govt. of Kerala and Shri K.V. Thomas, ex. Minister and M.L.A. were also there in the Indian delegation to Vatican City.
The feelings of Shri Shekhawat while paying homage is reproduced as under :
I have come to this hallowed Vatican City on a mournful and solemn pilgrimage to pay respectful homage on behalf of the people and the Govt. of Republic of India and on my personal behalf to His Holiness Pope John Paul-II who was an apostle of peace and harmony and a champion of human dignity of the world’s poor and the downtrodden. There was a deep spiritual side to his personality, imbued with great compassion and sensitivity which earned him the respect and adulation of people across the world. His legacy of humanism will endure as a fountainhead of universal love, uniting people in a common brotherhood of humanity.
I see here a virtual sea of humanity representing all nations and races that have come to bid adieu and pay their respectful homage to the revered leader. Indeed, this reaffirms that Pope was truly the ‘People’s Pope’, a father figure whose benedictions and blessings guided the people to follow the path of righteousness enabling them to achieve oneness with God.
The Pope belonged to the entire humanity; yet, India was very close to his heart. In 1986 and 1999, the Pope visited India twice to have deeper understanding of India’s civilisational ethos. He had great affection and regard for Mother Teresa of India. When she was consecrated as a Saint by the Pope, this rare gesture moved the people of our country. It was because of his deep love for India and his attachment with the countrymen that he elevated three Indian Bishops as Cardinals. This was perhaps the last papal decree issued by him before his sad demise.
The Pope had a deep understanding of Indian philosophy, especially the ancient dictum ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – ‘the entire world is one family’. The Pope had actually made the entire world, his home. The Pope symbolised one-ness of the humanity i the most sublime sense. He was so greatly influenced by the great Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, and Rabindranath Tagore that he used to often quote from their writings.
I join the world community in paying my respectful homage to the world’s most prominent religious personality.
AK/SK/JA
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