A holy Mass in the Cathedral of St. Joseph took place on Saturday, May 11, to celebrate 25 years from the visit of St. John Paul II to Romania.
The Holy Mass, officiated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucharest, H.E. Aurel Perca was attended by His Eminence Cardinal Peter Erdo, Primate of Hungary, the Auxiliary Bishop H.E. Cornel Damian, the first Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature Mons. Tuomo Vimpari, the Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus H.E. Ioan Robu as well as representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Church Patriarch Daniel and the Mufti of Romania.
His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania joined the celebration together with representatives of the Royal House and members of the Government, Parliament and Diplomatic Corp.
In his homily, Archbishop Perca stressed the key messages and encouragements delivered by Pope John Paul II, “not to be afraid” and a call for unity of Christians. Not been afraid was a critical message in those days of major changes in Eastern Europe after the fall of communist regimes, changes that Pope John Paul II led to a large extent. Those messages of courage and unity, together with a sincere closeness to the Romanian Orthodox Patriarch remain actual also in these days of key challenges to world stability and Peace.