'Young people brought the Pope alive'

Brother Richard Dunleavy

Brother Richard Dunleavy spent 13 years in Rome as secretary-general of the Marist Brothers.

During that time he met the Pope several times. He says he has special memories of those occasions.

"The most inspiring meetings with him were in his own chapel in the morning when he would be praying and celebrating Mass.

"Those were the times you could see the figure of the person in a sense carrying so many burdens, but a person deeply mystical in character; highly intelligent, but deeply spiritual."

He said the Pope had made a huge contribution to the world, including his role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and by promoting Catholic reconciliation with Jews and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Brother Richard said John Paul II's disappointment, if he had one, would be that he died without achieving a reconciliation with the Eastern Orthodox Church after a 900-year schism.

He also recalled the Pope's intelligence and insight, his wit and playfulness, especially with the young.

"Young people brought him alive in a different kind of way from more formal occasions.

"His sardonic wit was something which could really stir, particularly young people. I was there for the World Youth Day in Rome in 2002, when you had two million young people there. They just poured into Rome and all there to see him.

"I understand they are coming from all over Europe now because they regarded him as a grandfather figure."