Kerala, April 29: ‘Pope John Paul II wished to take a dip in Ganga’ Thrissur (Ker): Late Pope John Paul II, who will be beatified on May 1 ahead of conferment of sainthood by the Vatican, had an unfulfilled wish to take a dip in Ganga river, considered holy by Hindus.
John Paul conveyed his wish to take a dip in the Ganga to a senior Catholic Bishop from Kerala who met him at the Vatican in 1986 before the Pontiff’s visit to India that year.
This was disclosed by the then Bishop of Thrissur diocese, late Mar Joseph Kundukulam, at a meeting convened here to discuss the details of the papal visit to the town, according to Mar Rahael Thattil, Auxiliary Bishop of Thrissur.
“Those present at the meeting were deeply touched when Bishop Kundukulam quoted the Pope having conveyed to him his wish to take a bath in the Ganga,” Bishop Thattil informed.
–Agencies