(Original Source: News of the Institute and Lasallian Family)

Rome, April 4, 2005

Rome and the Generalate Mourn the Death of the Holy Father: Lasallians all over the world are mourning the Death of the Holy Father, a long time friend of the Brothers. He especially "touched the hearts" of young people all over the world and, like our Founder, John Baptist de La Salle, was an activist for the young, especially the poor. He will be greatly missed.

With the death of Pope John Paul II, Rome and the Generalate have been thrown into a heightened sense of pilgrims and the media. So many people want to be here in Rome for the significant events surrounding John Paul II’s death. Rome is always a city of pilgrims and the media, but this event has of course intensified the experience.

I walked down to St. Peter’s Square just after midnight on April 2nd to say my own goodbyes to our Pope and to be with others who wanted to do the same. Even after midnight, the Piazza was awash with lights and filled with people. It was a very strange mixture of emotions. There was a quiet which was certainly not typical for Piazza San Pietro, but the quiet was not so much somber as it was prayerful and thankful. John Paul II certainly left his mark on the world and on the Catholic Church.

The Generalate is also filled to capacity during these times for a number of reasons. We have two commissions which will start meeting during the week of April 4th, the MEL Commission (Educational Mission) and the Association Commission. Also, Radio France is using several rooms here to broadcast news of the events in Rome. We are glad to be able to provide them some help during this time when space is at such a premium in Rome. Indeed, even the streets of Rome are one big communication studio. The street in front of Castel Sant?Angelo is virtually a forest of satellite dishes.

I will not generally be posting any news of the events in Rome on our site because there is no need for us to be in competition with the international media which will do a very complete job. I will be posting our regular Lasallian news events and hope to keep you as up to date as possible about what is going on in our Lasallian World.
^{(Br. Donald Johanson)}