"Dear brothers and sisters at 21:37 our beloved holy father Pope John Paul II has returned to the House of the Father. Let's pray for him."

It was this news as read by Cardinal Angelo Sodano that reached millions around the world in no time which has made the world grieve at the passing of the 264th Pope, John Paul II. The 84-year old Pope finally fell into eternal rest in his private apartment at the Vatican at 2137 local time due to septic shock and cardio-circulatory collapse.

His final hours were marked by the uninterrupted prayer of all those who were assisting him in his pious death, and by the choral participation in prayer of the thousands of faithful who were gathered in St Peter's Square.

From a young Pole who had witnessed the rise of Nazi Germany in his own homeland, Karol Wojtyla faced the challenge of being a priest in a Communist state in 1946, the Archbishop of Krakow in 1964, a cardinal in 1967 and eventually ascending to become the first non-Italian Pope in 450 years.

John Paul II went on to become the most widely traveled pope in history. He was well know for having influenced the fall of Communism in eastern Europe, bringing the Catholic message to an unprecedented number of people around the world, becoming an assassination target, embarking on a historic Holy Land odyssey, being the first Pope to visit to Egypt, voicing his opposition to the war in Iraq and the introduction of the Popemobile along with many other stirring endeavors. Despite increasing frailty he continued his work right till the very end making his time of papacy one the best ever known to modern Catholics.

John Paul II was the second longest-serving pope (26 Yrs, 5 Mths) since the apostle St Peter, Pius IX (1846-1878). He was also one of the Catholic Church's most influential and controversial leaders. He was a conservative in terms of theology. but, he was also a pope with a keen interest in social justice. Even with his departure, he has left a legacy that will remain for many years to come even influencing the actions of future popes who cannot undo the teachings of their predecessor.

In his own words, "I came as a pilgrim of love, of truth and of hope." So shall he leave, sharing with us all the love and wisdom that he attained during his blissful years of spreading harmony within mankind. On behalf of ceneus and all her readers I express my deepest condolence over the demise of this truly great and humble apostle of peace whose love will still beat the hearts of many for a long time to come.