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The
witness of Pope John Paul II
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
As I pen these thoughts, John Paul II is back in his quarters at the
Vatican. The world watched as he was hospitalized. Thousands have prayed
for his recovery.
This latest episode has raised up once more questions as to why a man
with such ill health does not resign. Frequently asked questions have
been focused on who is in charge when a pope becomes incapacitated. Not
surprisingly, ever-present speculation about who will succeed John Paul
II took on new life. Not without curiosity about “what happens next,”
many of us simply were saddened to learn that the Holy Father required
hospitalization.
John Paul II is a huge figure in the history of the latter part of the
20th century and in the Church. More than a few have suggested that
future generations will honor him as John Paul the Great. That
would be exceptional. To date only two previous popes have been given
that title: Leo the Great, whose pontificate end-ed in 461, and Gregory
the Great, who died in 604. Yet, Karol Wojtyla — Bishop of Rome and
Vicar of Jesus Christ; successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles;
Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church; Patriarch of the West; Primate
of Italy; Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province; and
Sovereign of the Vatican City State — is truly an exceptional man.
No doubt curiosity about what would happen should a pope become totally
incapable of fulfilling his responsibilities will continue to fascinate.
In fact, however, other popes have been ill. All previous popes have
died. Prior to this highly visible pope, the varying degrees of
debilitation which preceded death were not played out before the world.
The public wasn’t aware of what was happening until death was imminent
or had occurred.
It is said that the impact of the Holy Father’s hospitalization on the
governance of the Church has not been a big issue in the Vatican.
Business continues. Relatively few things need the hand of the pope. He
appoints bishops, makes appointments to 30 departments that make up the
governance of the Church, and authors or signs off on major documents.
The bulk of the daily work of the Church does not need the pope’s
immediate supervision.
As television flashed pictures of people praying for the Holy Father, I
found myself thinking they should be prayers of thanksgiving. He has
been and continues to be a great gift to the Church and the world.
John Paul II has made it rather clear that God will determine when his
pontificate ends. Should he vacate the See of Peter, I would be happy
for him. He has indeed fought the good fight. One does get tired. On the
other hand, it seems to me that determination to continue forward in
spite of the difficulties involved adds to a legacy that makes John Paul
II the great man that he is. In both his writings and by his life, he
has taught and continues to teach that human life is to be held in
highest respect. It is to be respected even when the person involved is
guilty of heinous crimes. The sanctity of life demands opposition to
abortion and euthanasia, the pre-eminent threats to human life and
dignity. It demands opposition to embryonic stem-cell research, cloning,
assisted suicide and the death penalty. It requires that every effort be
made to avoid war and to promote peace. It compels a person to demand an
end to the culture of violence and urges emphasis on social justice. And
it is to be honored when a person suffers failing health, even if they
are reduced to total dependence.
In coining the phrase the culture of death, John Paul II has
challenged the world to see growing disregard for the sanctity of life
for what it is. His words on the subject are powerful. At the same time,
his perseverance in continuing the ministry God has given him also
speaks loudly of the sanctity of life. Becoming old and debilitated does
not mean one is useless.
Each year, John Paul II proposes a theme for Lenten reflection. The
elderly is the theme chosen for this year. In announcing the theme, Our
Holy Father said that “care of the elderly, above all when they pass
through difficult moments, must be of great concern to all the
faithful.” He went on to call for an in-creased public awareness “that
the elderly represent … a source to be valued.”
I am convinced that witnessing to the sanctity of life is one reason our
Holy Father has not stepped down from his responsibilities as pope. His
body is debilitated, but that has not rendered him ineffective. On the
contrary, it is deeply moving to see what he is able to accomplish in
spite of his infirmities. His message is loud and clear: Value is not
measured by hours worked or tasks accomplished or state of health. Each
one of us is a person of great value. Each is a temple of the Holy
Spirit, placed here by God to witness to the sanctity of human life from
conception to natural death.
John Paul II will leave a legacy of firsts. It appears that God is going
to give him time to add to the already lengthy list. A huge part of his
legacy will be his personal witness to the dignity of life. That witness
to the sanctity of life prior to birth has been loud and clear from the
beginning. His surrender to God in infirmity makes many uncomfortable,
but it is an equally powerful witness to what he has taught throughout
his pontificate. The elderly and infirm are as precious to God as the
unborn. All human life is sacred.
Who’s in charge? While the question pricks curiosity about the inner
workings of the Vatican, the answer is quite clear. God is in charge.
The rest of us do the best we can. |
