Once, when John Paul II was accused of traveling too much and neglecting Vatican affairs, the Pope replied: “I can travel because Cardinal Ratzinger is in the Vatican and Cardinal Ruini is in Roma.” These words best demonstrate the significant role played in the pontificate of John Paul II by “don Camillo”, the Italian priest who for over a decade and a half, starting in 1991, was vicar of the diocese of Rome and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI). He was the closest collaborator of Pope Wojtyla and one of the most influential figures in the Italian Church.

The witness to this close collaboration between John Paul II and Card. Ruini was the Pope’s secretary, Monsignor Stanislaw Dziwisz, today archbishop emeritus of Krakow. After the passing of Card. Ruini, Card. Dziwisz felt the duty to write a letter of tribute.

In his letter, Card. Dziwisz writes that “with deep sadness” he learned of the passing of “Cardinal Camillo Ruini, former Vicar General of Rome, faithful collaborator of the Holy Father John Paul II and his successors, and untiring servant of the Church and the Gospel.”

The former secretary of John Paul II wished to thank God for Cardinal Ruini’s long ministry, marked “by a complete dedication to the Church, a sincere love for the Successor of Peter and a constant commitment to the good and unity of the People of God.” In his responsibilities as Vicar of Rome and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference “he always sought the good of the Church, with faithfulness to the Magisterium and a deep sense of duty and pastoral responsibility.”

Card. Dziwisz wanted to emphasize the fruitful and important collaboration of Ruini with John Paul II, to whom “he was close in decisive moments of the life of the Church and society, always animated by the desire to bear witness to the Gospel.”

At the end of his letter, Card. Dziwisz wished to express his closeness to the Diocese of Rome and to all those who were closest to him, especially in these final days of his life. “In my prayers, I entrust his soul to the mercy of the Heavenly Father” – concluded his letter the former secretary of Saint John Paul II.