A newly created rose commemorating Pope John Paul II was formally blessed by Cardinal Roger Mahony during the noon Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels April 3, a year and a day after the death of the beloved pontiff.

Blooming in pots placed underneath a portrait of the late pope on the altar, the white hybrid tea rose is the product of a partnership between the Jackson & Perkins Co. and the United Farm Workers.

"We have the great joy today of introducing and blessing a new rose which has been developed," said Cardinal Mahony in his opening remarks to the congregation which included several first-time visitors paying tribute to John Paul II on the first anniversary of his death.

During his homily, Cardinal Mahony praised the union-grower collaboration which produced such a beautiful symbol of John Paul II's papacy. He said the pure white color of the rose was a reminder of the papal white robes worn by the pope and reflected hope and joy in the future.

"It looks so fitting today [next] to the candle used last year during the illness of the Holy Father and during the whole time of his funeral," said Cardinal Mahony. "While the Holy Father's personal light may go out through death and transition to heaven, the light of Christ ever burns brightly and it continues through these wonderful symbols [of rose and candle]."

He noted the commemorative event was the second time a new rose had been formally presented at the Cathedral. A rose earlier developed by Jackson & Perkins in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe is planted near the Cathedral's outdoor shrine to Mary. The Pope John Paul II commemorative rose will also soon be planted in the Cathedral gardens.

The new rose has already been planted in the Vatican gardens according to Bill Ihle, Jackson & Perkins senior vice president. The bare root roses debuted in early March in an exclusive, limited edition of 2,500 Commemorative Rose Collections available through the Medford, Oregon-based company's catalog and website.

"It's been very, very popular," said Ihle, who added the company has already sold hundreds of the Pope John Paul II roses over the past couple of weeks. Ihle and company president, Bill Williams, will travel to the Vatican for a formal blessing of the flower by Pope Benedict XVI on June 27.

"We're honored to be able to present this rose. We think it's a fitting commemorative for the pope," said Williams. He noted that ten percent of the net proceeds will go to the poor of Sub-Saharan Africa, one of Pope John Paul's favorite charities.

The 2006 limited edition rose commemorative collection is available exclusively in the Jackson & Perkins spring catalog or at www.jacksonandperkins.com for $150. The collection includes a bare root Pope John Paul II rose, an engraved garden marker, and a silk-lined portfolio with a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.

An unnumbered commemorative rose collection may be reserved for delivery in 2007 for $110; a single bare root rose may be reserved for delivery next year for $24.95 plus shipping and handling.