'Pope John Paul II wished to take a dip in Ganga'
PTI | Apr 30, 2011, 04.21am IST
THRISSUR: Late Pope John Paul II, who will be beatified on May 1 ahead of confer-ment of sainthood by the Vatican, had an unfulfilled wish to take a dip in Ganga river, considered holy by Hindus.
John Paul conveyed his wish to take a dip in the Ganga to a senior Catholic Bishop from Kerala who met him at the Vatican in 1986 before the Pontiff's visit to India that year.
This was disclosed by the then Bishop of Thrissur diocese, late Mar Joseph Kundukulam, at a meeting convened here to discuss the details of the papal visit to the town, according to Mar Rahael Thattil, Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur.
"Those present at the meeting were deeply touched when Bishop Kundukulam quoted the Pope having conveyed to him his wish to take a bath in the Ganga," Bishop Thattil said.
It is a rare event in the history of the church that a person will be beatified within just six years of his death, said Mar Thattil.
Another person to have received a similar honour was Mother Teresa, who lived in India and worked for the poorest of the poor on the streets. She died on September 5, 1997 and was beatified on October 19, 2003.
Sister Alphonsa, who was declared as a saint two years ago, and Kuriakose Elias of Chavara were beatified at Kottayam on February 9, 1986 by Pope John Paul II after 40 and 115 years of their death respectively, he said.
'Pope John Paul II wished to take a dip in Ganga' - The Times of India
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My question: Why?
PTI | Apr 30, 2011, 04.21am IST
THRISSUR: Late Pope John Paul II, who will be beatified on May 1 ahead of confer-ment of sainthood by the Vatican, had an unfulfilled wish to take a dip in Ganga river, considered holy by Hindus.
John Paul conveyed his wish to take a dip in the Ganga to a senior Catholic Bishop from Kerala who met him at the Vatican in 1986 before the Pontiff's visit to India that year.
This was disclosed by the then Bishop of Thrissur diocese, late Mar Joseph Kundukulam, at a meeting convened here to discuss the details of the papal visit to the town, according to Mar Rahael Thattil, Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur.
"Those present at the meeting were deeply touched when Bishop Kundukulam quoted the Pope having conveyed to him his wish to take a bath in the Ganga," Bishop Thattil said.
It is a rare event in the history of the church that a person will be beatified within just six years of his death, said Mar Thattil.
Another person to have received a similar honour was Mother Teresa, who lived in India and worked for the poorest of the poor on the streets. She died on September 5, 1997 and was beatified on October 19, 2003.
Sister Alphonsa, who was declared as a saint two years ago, and Kuriakose Elias of Chavara were beatified at Kottayam on February 9, 1986 by Pope John Paul II after 40 and 115 years of their death respectively, he said.
'Pope John Paul II wished to take a dip in Ganga' - The Times of India
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My question: Why?