Source: Zenit
BARCELONA, Spain, MAY 6, 2010 (Zenit.org).- For Pope John Paul II, being with God was the most important part of the day, and the "most natural thing in the world."
Joaquín Navarro Valls, psychiatrist, journalist and former director of the Vatican press office, said this when he spoke of the Polish Pontiff, whom he served as spokesman from 1984 to his death. He spoke of the Pope in the context of an acceptance speech for an honorary doctorate from Barcelona's International University of Cataluña.
Navarro Valls' address centered on John Paul II. He said of the Pope: "His great masterpiece was that which he accomplished in himself, in his interior: to have always maintained that interior flexibility that enabled him to say 'yes' to all of the requirements and suggestions that in every moment of his life, he welcomed from on High."
After recounting some personal experiences with the Polish Pontiff, Navarro Valls affirmed that "in him could be seen the intellectual richness of a theologian and the spontaneous innocence of a little boy."
"His spirituality was attractive and pleasant, apostolic and ever convincing," the former Vatican spokesman said. "During his day, being with God was his greatest passion, and the most natural thing in the world."
Article provided by ZENIT News Agency.