VATICAN CITY (Zenit) - Pope John Paul II "has never left us alone," affirmed his longtime personal secretary on the third anniversary of the Pontiff's death.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, archbishop of Krakow, affirmed this Wednesday when he directed a meditation for youth at the end of a prayer vigil in the Vatican grottoes.

The young people, before the tomb of the Polish Pope, had a moment of silence at 9:37, the hour that John Paul II died on April 2, 2005. Thanks to a satellite connection, thousands of youth in Poland shared the same moment.

Cardinal Dziwisz told the youth: "You are the watchmen of the dawn, youth who announce the day, a season full of sun. You are the John Paul II generation, who have the task of the new evangelization."

Later, showing emotion, the prelate began to address his spiritual father: "Your service to the Church continues, even if in a different way. We think of your teaching, of your example in life, which keeps speaking to our consciences.

"We want to proclaim the sacred character of life and the sanctity of the family and marriage. In the name of Jesus, we are on the side of the poor, of the humble, of those who have nothing, of the persecuted in the name of justice or religion."

"From the window of the house of the Father, one sees better," Cardinal Dziwisz said, alluding to words that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger pronounced in the funeral. "Therefore, we ask you to watch over the youth of today, their aspirations, hopes, worries. John Paul II, Holy Father, thank you for everything."

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Benedict XVI's vicar for the Diocese of Rome, also participated in the prayer service, as did Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica.