What does it mean to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Karol Wojtyla, Saint John Paul II (May 18, 1920 – May 18, 2020) in the painful context of Covid-19? What message can the globetrotting Pontiff offer Human Family today? In a more convincing manner definitely he would tell us those very same words of his homily at the beginning of his pontificate in 1978: “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows ‘what is in man’. He alone knows it.” It is a challenging call to open wide the doors for Christ and to his saving power the boundaries of all that we in the human family can ever think.
On April 7, 2019 Team ICM featured: St. John Paul II as We Fondly Remember Him. Today, we take a quick look at Covid-19 as a great chance to move ahead as human family, a pilgrimage to the roots of our religious traditions with the paradigmatic metaphor of Assisi inaugurated by St. John Paul II and Fear not forge ahead beyond covid-19 with bonds of love and compassion.
Any Pain in the Family is a Great Chance
The terrible Covid-19 pandemic, is a special moment in the history of the human family. It is to the treasures of the family that now we need to return: whatever be the temperamental differences due to the thousands of logical reasons we can affirm and uphold; it is a proven fact that whenever there is a great pain caused by death or any other major concerns, the family members are ready to forget and forgive and go beyond every hurt feeling and come together. The covid-19 reality that humanity is facing is and can be a great chance, a splendid opportunity for nations to come together. Concrete expressions of this are already visible. Pooling together of human and economic resources to find an appropriate vaccine, tracing out possible and attainable educative and spiritual journeys are all within the reach of the world at large.
A Pilgrimage to the Roots of Our Religious Traditions
St. John Paul II had an intimate, dynamic and steady relationship with Jesus. It was the power of Jesus Christ that sustained and motivated him at all times. Well aware that only in Christ the Redeemer, the human person can find true freedom and peace, he courageously challenged young and old. The paradigmatic metaphor of Assisi inaugurated by St. John Paul II on October 27th 1986 is a road map for humanity. Ever since that day representatives of religions, gather in Assisi and in other places to pray and plan together. St. John Paul II was in a prophetic manner sharing with humanity that there are different ways to deal with conflict, that our very religious traditions can offer valid points for reflection and action and that religious leaders have an indispensable role to play in the midst of conflict, pandemic or any other calamity.
A pilgrimage into the roots of our religious traditions will take us face to face with the rich religious heritage and the core values that have shaped the lives of millions of believers. It will put us in dynamic contact with contemplation, the longing for the divine or the Other that is present in every human being and the urgency to strive after holiness.
St. John Paul II has expressed eloquently: “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). In Redemptoris Missio n.29, St. John Paul II is reminding us 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.’ Today, on the centenary of his birth, there is one life challenging question before us: How to get out of the terrible covid-19 pandemic? St. John Paul II is whispering into our ears: Hearken to the wisdom of Pope Francis: “We can only get out of this situation together, humanity together.” How shall we do it?
Forge Ahead Beyond Covid-19
Among St. John Paul II’s contribution, his fourteen encyclicals stand out with the main theme: God and man, Jesus Christ and the Church. Jesus Christ the redeemer of man, is the path to the Father. He was passionately in love with God and compassionately in love with people. He was a great intellectual with his own remarkable voice in the modern world’s cultural dialogue. He was a friend who connected with every single person with simplicity.
To refer to a few of his great Encyclicals: Veritatis Splendor – the encyclical on the foundations of Moral Theology, Redemptoris Missio – encyclical on mission that highlights the Church’s mission task in the context of contemporary inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue. Fides et Ratio which focuses on the relationship between faith and reason. Ut Unum Sint – the encyclical on Ecumenism –St. John Paul II considered himself a servant of unity.
His Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente specially dedicated to the Jubilee Year 2000 is a handbook for New Evangelisation.
St. John Paul II has already identified few concrete ways: to walk the path of reconciliation and journeying together, to grow in mutual esteem and trust, to find true freedom and to seek the truth tirelessly, to coordinate common action effectively and to top it all with bonds of mercy and compassion.
The theme of truth which characterizes all of the late Holy Father’s magisterial work is developed in all its drama in his great encyclical Fides et Ratio on faith and reason. “Diakonia of the truth” is the service that the pontiff invites all to render to society. St. John Paul II considered Diakonia of Truth as a service that “imposes a particular responsibility of a quite special kind” (FR2). There are new horizons that are being opened up for the diakonia in the world. Programmatic terms such us liberation, integral promotion of human beings, commitment to justice, civilization of love, culture of peace are indicative of the new perspective.
In the midst of covid-19, we are constantly reminded of social distancing. This may be a term that was not in St. John Paul II’s mind: with the thousands and thousands of youngsters and myriads of people whose hands he has shaken, with whom he has prayed, and whom he has blessed. As we celebrate his 100th Birthday, we pray: St. John Paul II, accompany us on life’s journey and lead us to Jesus. We can still hear you say: “BE NOT AFRAID! OPEN WIDE THE DOORS TO CHRIST”, Courage, forge ahead beyond covid-19 with the bonds of mercy and compassion.
A great and well-written article. It is a deep reflective article very contextual, born of observation of the current scenario of the Covid-19 and of thought projection into the past and the present.
Saint Pope John Paul the II is the walking compendium of the methods of mission of the church making Christ’s gospel ever relevant in an evolving world.
Thank to Sr. Teresa Joseph FMA for wonderfully bringing out the many different aspects of the Great Pope on the Centenary of his birth.
Lovely thought on turning adversity into opportunities, and of the world that works together for creating opportunities for everyone.🌹
Hi Teresa! Congrats n blessings! M his silent admirer! I luv him n often pray to him. M asking him today for an awesome miracle! St JP II intervene on behalf of all d CVictims.