, J)' AUSTRALIAA
PR รต 3E M10NISTER
FOR PRESS 10 OCTOBER, 1978
DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL
Mr. Speaker, as all Honourable Members will know the death
occurred on 29 September, 1978 of his Holiness Pope John Pal.
I move" that the House notes the death on 29 September, 1978
of his Holiness Pooe John Paul, and expresses its profound
regret at his passing."
It was with deep shock that we heard eleven days ago of the
death of Pope John Paul. Elected to the Papacy on 26 August,
his reign was tragically brief no Pontiff in modern times
had so short a tenure. In that lies a very human tragedy, : hat
of a man chosen for his Church's highest office but who al.; st
in the same hour was taken from it. Yet, even in such a
short time, Pope John Paul had been able to make a strong
impression, winning widespread affection .; ith his simple,
self-effacing style.
Pope John Paul . was ordained in 1935, and he thereafter rose
to Bishop, Archbishop, Cardinal and finally Pope. During
this period he displayed a capacity for reasonableness
and moderation. He also eschewed ostentation and much of
the pomp and ceremony of ecclesiastical office.
On being elected Pope, he chose to have a simple ceremony,
for his installation, in St. Peter's Square.
Pope John Paul's entire ecclesiastical life was spent in
Northern Italy but his was no narrow experience. As Archbishop
of Venice his Diocese included not only this historic and
beautiful city, but also the highly industrialised area
of Mestre.
One of his strengths which was undoubtedly a factor in his being
chosen to succeed Pope Paul VI was his involvement in past. ral
work, including the daily round of visits to the sick, to
schools, factories and seminaries.
Another factor ray have been his outgoing warmheartedness.
Pope John Paul combined an unassuming manner with infectic
good humour. Although Pope John Paul had' displayed an att~ chment
to orthodoxy, he was prepared to travel down the road of reform ope
by the second Vaican Council.
He showed deep concern for the poor and the under-privileged.
He saw the need for social change and sy7 boiised this by his
own personal actions. / 2
1 ;" r
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He was a man of decision tempered by good-humoured tolerance,
a man of austerity but with considerable personal charm, a
literate man but one able to communicate simply and
directly to all peoples. His untimely death will be a
loss to both his Church and to mankind.
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