In honor of the April 2 death of Pope John Paul II, Georgetown University held a memorial Mass yesterday in Gaston Hall. Reverend Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., led the Mass as the principal celebrant. Father Brian McDermott, S.J addressed the breadth of the Pope’s achievements in his homily.
“His pontificate touched every corner of the globe and every current of humanity,” McDermott said. “As the shepherd of the Church, he lived out his responsibility to manage boundaries, which is what world leaders are called to do.”
McDermott also detailed the late Pope’s role in opposing Communism in his native Poland and his efforts to protect Catholic universities worldwide from governmental oppression. Georgetown President John J. DeGioia joined McDermott in his tribute.
Protestant Minister LaKendra Hardware, Muslim Imam Yahya Hendi, Orthodox Reverend Constantine White and Rabbi Harold White also spoke at the service.
Many students were unable to attend the Mass due to the failure of the University to cancel classes for the occasion.
“One of my professors said that he didn’t get the opportunity to go to Mass and remember the Holy Father, since he had to teach,” Bridget Bowes (CAS ‘07) said. “As a Catholic school, we definitely should have been given this opportunity to remember the Pope.”
