John Paul II underlined that "the history of Christian piety teaches that Mary is the path that leads to Christ, and that filial devotion to her does not at all diminish intimacy with Jesus, but rather, it increases it and leads it to very high levels of perfection." He concluded by asking all Christians "to make room (for Mary) in their daily lives, acknowledging her providential role in the path of salvation" (Ibid.).
According to the Vatican Information Service, your pope isn't too squeamish about worshiping Mary...
No.
According to you. You make that claim, your quote from VIS does not say that.
Don't you ever get tired of being so haplessly, relentlessly wrong?
You obviously don't know the meaning of the word "worship". The Pope used the words "filial devotion", as in that of a son or daughter. Her "providential role in the path of salvation" acknowledges nothing more than that she was chosen by God for her role as the Mother of Jesus.
The actual words used by JPII in his address if properly translated should have been Marian adoration.
Form the Catechism of the catholic church:
973 By pronouncing her "fiat" at the Annunciation and giving her consent to the Incarnation, Mary was already collaborating with the whole work her Son was to accomplish. She is mother wherever he is Savior and head of the Mystical Body.
974 The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son's Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body.
975 "We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ" (Paul VI, CPG # 15).