By Sr. Teresa Joseph, FMA-
Karol Wojtyla (1920-2005) – John Paul II (1978-2005). The pontificate of John Paul II leaves a phenomenal legacy of Magisterium woven out of the fabric of human life in its multifaceted form and in its various concerns. A prophetic leader bestowed with a special Charism to lead and guide the Church, he was convinced that as expert in humanity the Church has a message to give to the people of the World: a message filled with hope and courage. John Paul II died on 2 April 2005 and was buried on 8 April 2005, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. Today, with profound gratitude for all that he has been and is to the Church and to the World; we cherish his memory and praise God.
The two most loved Pontiffs, John XXIII and John Paul II were canonized on April 27, 2014 the Divine Mercy Sunday, at a ceremony that witnessed Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI thanking God acknowledging the heroic virtues of these two saints.
A Mystic Passionately in Love With Jesus
“Do not be afraid! Open, rather open wide the doors to Christ!” (John Paul II, homily at the beginning of his Pontificate, Sunday 22 October 1978) was a clear expression of his intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. “The Pope has shown the evangelizing power of a mystic,” says Cardinal Julián Herranz.
“The media has given a lot of importance to the Pope’s more than 100 trips, and to the thousands of people he has touched through them. They’ve also focused on the dozens of doctrinal documents he’s promulgated. But there is another activity of John Paul II’s that doesn’t get mentioned often, which is the source of everything else he does: the countless hours that he spends praying before the Blessed Sacrament. What impresses me in my personal dealings with him is his mysticism. He is a man who lives in continuous union with God. He not only is the vicar of Christ, but also wants to make Christ present in his words, his teaching, and his actions. I think that mystical dimension is the source of all his apostolic and missionary energy.” (Cardinal Julián Herranz, The Pope has shown the evangelizing power of a mystic).
Come to Me
St. John Paul II lived the invitation: “Come to me” of Jesus in an exceptional way. How often the media has focussed on him lost in prayer. Joseph A. Galante narrates eloquently: “The most profound experiences that I had were during the visits to his private chapel after the meal. I was very much struck by the profound sense of prayerfulness of the Holy Father. Pope John Paul II is able to so focus on his relationship with God that all other people and sounds and settings are blotted out. I came away from those times with a conviction that our Holy Father is truly a mystic. His relationship with the Lord is so total and consuming that to be in his presence when he is at prayer enables one to experience the presence of God. That conviction endures within me and I seek to imitate in my own poor way the example of a man of profound prayer. A true mystic in our day.” (Joseph A. Galante, Lost in Prayer).
Contemplatives Committed to Dialogue
The challenge for us today is to become contemplatives committed to dialogue. St. John Paul II courageously affirmed: “my contact with representatives of the non-Christian spiritual traditions, particularly those of Asia, has confirmed me in the view that the future of mission depends to a great extent on contemplation,” (John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio, n.91).
The Pontiff was well aware of how very essential prayer and contemplation are for dialogue. “I repeat how important it is to revitalize prayer and contemplation in the process of dialogue. Men and women in the consecrated life can contribute very significantly to interreligious dialogue by witnessing to the vitality of the great Christian traditions of asceticism and mysticism.” (John Paul II, Ecclesia in Asia, n.31).
Electrifying Crowds
There was something fascinating in this Pope that could electrify crowds of thousands and tens of thousands of people. It was his closeness to human existence and his unshakeable faith in the Lord Jesus which were also the foundations of the splendid anthropology that he proposed. During a papacy of over 26 years, he was able to give witness to his closeness to the Lord Jesus and to the human family in countless ways. For him “The revealed truth concerning man as ‘the image and likeness’ of God constitutes the immutable basis of all Christian anthropology.” (John Paul II, Mulieris dignitatem, n. 6). Made in the image and likeness of God people are called on to live their lives in a manner worthy of this great dignity.
John Paul II indeed recognised the holiness of people. He beatified 1,338 and canonised 482 during his Pontificate. What was the secret of his extraordinary Charism? It was his total surrender to the Lord, his complete availability to be led by the Spirit with his motto Totus Tuus ego sum. He was open to people and alert to capture the working of the Spirit. Yes, it was not difficult to recognise that John Paul II was a mystic: a man of deep prayer and contemplation. His question “Who are you searching for?” still lingers on in the hearts of many.
This penetrating question of his is not only reflected on by people, but, millions and millions were convinced of the one he had sought and found: – Jesus Christ. With 104 ‘officially registered’ apostolic journeys: from the one to San Domingo and Mexico in January 1979 to that to Lourdes, in 2004, this Pope has not only traveled widely but stooped down to understand and enter into dialogue with people of all faiths. His charisma to attract large crowds and his passion for truth spurred on by his courage to proclaim the Good News of Jesus made him a man of genuine dialogue.
In his apostolic letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente n.53, John Paul II announced “the advent of a new millennium offers a great opportunity for inter-religious dialogue and for meeting with the leaders of the great world religions.” He has also identified how important it is to grow in mutual esteem and trust and to coordinate common action effectively. “I am convinced that the increased interest in dialogue between religions is one of the signs of hope present in the last part of this century (cf. Tertio Millennio Adveniente, n.46). Yet there is a need to go further. Greater mutual esteem and growing trust must lead to still more effective and coordinated common action on behalf of the human family” ((John Paul II, Discourse to the Interreligious Assembly, St. Peter’s Square, 28 October 1999).
The paradigmatic metaphor of Assisi inaugurated by John Paul II is a lasting memorial of inter-religious dialogue. October 27 1986, will forever remain a red letter day in the history of the human family. On that memorable day for the first time in history, representatives of religions gathered in Assisi to pray together. By inviting the leaders of other religions to Assisi, John Paul II opened doors of hope and courage proposing alternative styles for dealing with conflicts and for the establishment of peace and harmony.
In Redemptoris Missio n.29, St. John Paul II has expressed eloquently that “The Church’s relationship with the other religions is dictated by a twofold respect: ‘Respect for man in his quest for answers to the deepest questions of his life, and respect for the action of the Spirit in man.’ The respect for the human person is based on the theological anthropology. The Spirit of God blows freely breathing life and love and the “the breath of the Spirit creates witnesses of peace”.
A Father Who Counted on Youth
John Paul II, frankly told young people that he loved them and counted on them. “Yes – as I assured you on that unforgettable World Day celebrated in Paris – the Pope thinks about you and loves you; he reaches out to you daily with affectionate thoughts and accompanies you with prayer; he trusts you and counts on you, on your Christian commitment and on your collaboration in the Gospel cause.” (John Paul II, Message for the XIII World Youth Day).
Who can delete from our memories the icon of that great wooden cross, the multitude of youth gathered together and an ageing pontiff. Enough to remember the evocative image of the great “Gateway” in the field at Tor Vergata in Rome on the evening of 19 August 2000 at the start of the vigil of the 15th World Youth Day. In his own words: “Hand in hand with five young people from the five continents, I crossed the threshold under the gaze of the crucified and risen Christ. In a way it was symbolic: I was entering into the third millennium accompanied by all of you” (John Paul II, Message to the Youth of the World on the occasion of the XVI World Youth Day.)
The Pope commissioned the Young people of every continent to take up the challenge of becoming saints: “Young people of every continent do not be afraid to be the saints of the new millennium”! Together with this invitation, he marked out for them the path to become saints. “Be contemplative, love prayer; be coherent with your faith and generous in the service of your brothers and sisters, be active members of the Church and builders of peace”. The mission he entrusted to them is “To become builders of a civilisation of love and truth.”
A Unique Contribution
John Paul II not only continued his predecessors’ work of developing the body of Catholic social doctrine but gave it a fresh, dynamic and human touch. Remarkable changes have taken place within the Roman Catholic Church under the papacy of John Paul II.
“That our time has witnessed the amazing transformation of the Catholic Church from a staunch defender of the old-world political order to a democratic sympathizer is due in no small measure to the visionary leadership of John Paul II.” (Gregory M. A. Gronbacher, The Encyclical Legacy of John Paul II in Religion & Liberty Volume 7, Number 6, http://www.acton.org/pub/religion-liberty/volume-7-number-6/encyclical-legacy-john-paul-II).
Dared to Take the Papacy Out of Vatican
John Paul II “took the papacy out of the Vatican,” and according to the data available from the municipality, 3 million pilgrims traveled to Rome to say goodbye to the Pope. In two thousand years of Christianity, it was the first time Rome received so many pilgrims, as it did for John Paul II’s funeral. Together with them and the people of the entire World, we greet you mystic and path breaker in inter-religious dialogue. Today you are fondly remembered. In your Last Will and Testament you wrote: “How can I not embrace with grateful memory all the bishops of the world whom I have met in “ad limina Apostolorum” visits! How can I not recall so many non-Catholic Christian brothers! And the rabbi of Rome and so many representatives of non -Christian religions! And how many representatives of the world of culture, science, politics, and of the means of social communication!” (Last Will and Testament. Official English Translation of Pope John Paul II Last Will and Testament VATICAN, April 7, 2005, LifeSiteNews.com). And with gratitude we remember the words of Joseph RATZINGER, Homily at John Paul II’s funeral Mass on April 8, 2005 in St. Peter’s Square.
“None of us can ever forget how in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father, marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic Palace and one last time gave his blessing ‘urbi et orbi.’ We can be sure that our beloved Pope is standing today at the window of the Father’s house, that he sees us and blesses us. Yes, bless us, Holy Father.” Yes, continue to bless us as we fix our glance on Jesus Christ and journey with our brothers and sisters of other religions strengthening bonds of friendship and dialogue.
John Paul II has been acclaimed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. He was instrumental in ending communism in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe and significantly improved the Catholic Church’s relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. His influence on Catholics and believers of other religions throughout the world cannot be denied. This Pope was one of the most-travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate.