Memorial Service for Pope Paul VI 1978 Aug 08: TEXT DETAILS

Filed under Spiritual figure and plays | Tributes and Expressions of appreciation

On 8 August 1978 United Nations delegates and staff joined the members of the Meditation Group in a memorial service for his Holiness Pope Paul VI, held in the Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations. Sri Chinmoy opened the programme with a silent meditation facing a portrait of the Holy Father, followed by a musical dedication on the Indian esraj.

Drawing on his deeply moving experiences in meetings with the Pontiff on three separate occasions at the Vatican , Sri Chinmoy then offered a soulful tribute to the Pope.

Members of the Meditation Group recited passages from Sri Chinmoy’s book about the Pontiff, Compassion-Father, Champion-Brother, Perfection-Friend, and Mr. Donald Keys, President of Planetary Citizens, reminisced about the Pope ‘s historic visit to the United Nations in October 1965.

Remarks of the late Secretary-General U Thant and Pope Paul during this visit were then read out, as well as statements by Secretary-General Waldheim and President Carter on the Pope’s passing.

The programme closed with Sri Chinmoy’s reminiscences about his meetings with the Pontiff and the performance by the Meditation Group singers of a song Sri Chinmoy dedicated to the Pope, “Compassion Height.”

For Summary of Program and Photos see:

1978/08/08/memorial-service-for-pope-paul-vi/

Below is excerpt of transcript from event as appeared in the August 1978 periodical bulletin: “Meditation at the United Nations” -( scanned page-images 6 – 26).

download pdf of Bulletin :bu-scpmaun-1978-08-27-vol-06-n-08-aug-ocr-opt.pd

Click on page images 6 – 26 below for larger version