by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - On this day eight years ago the world mourned the loss of Pope John Paul II, in remembrance of his passing a special ceremony was held in Hagatna. After years of standing idle the statue of Pope John Paul The Second is now able to make its full rotation every 12 hours.

It was on this day eight years ago April 2, 2005 that the Holy Father passed away in his apartment at the age of 84. He was the longest serving pontiff in history. The statue is historically significant to island Catholics as it was constructed on the site where the pope celebrated mass here on Guam in 1981.

After two years of renovation work which included work that was done in Thailand, Archbishop Anthony Apuron blessed the rotating statue during a rededication ceremony this morning shortly after another unveiling ceremony was held in the Cathedral Basilica.

Inside the cathedral the archbishop blessed and enshrined a separate statue of the late Pope John Paul II followed by mass. As for the rotating statue it will make a full revolution every 12 hours.