A tribute to His Holiness Pope John Paul II

As the catholic community all over the world and all clergy members of the Catholic Church are focussing their attention to witness the 25 years of Pope John Paul II as the pontiff of Vatican on October 16^th 2003. It was this day Our John Paul II was elected to lead the one billion catholic community after 7 futile rounds of balloting by the Royal College of Cardinals in Vatican. They could not agree a worthy candidate after 7 rounds of balloting. At last they agreed a worthy candidate to lead the catholic all over the world. I believe what a fantastic choice they made and the present Pope John Paul II lead the Catholic Church from the front. I along with others vociferously agree he is the man of the century and he should have got the noble peace prize for this year 2003. Be that, as it may be, he is truly the hero of the century. A man deeply religious, pious, holy and his strong asset are the faith he has in the religion and in Divine Mother Mary. He has been ailing with Parkinsonism and an arthritic knee and hip, yet he made a trip to the historical Roman city Pompeii where millions thronged him to have a glimpse of the Holy Father. As he has taken all ordeals as a challenge, he is ready for the celebration mass on October 16^th and beatification of the few saints. With the health deteriorating in recent times many doubt he will stand that rigorous ceremony. But he is a man with enthusiasm and youth even at 83 years of age. He stood for his values and convinced what he did for the church.

Born on 18^th May 1920 to a Polish father and Lithuanian mother near Krakow in Poland. His birth name was Karol Joseph Wojtyla and his father Karol Wojtyla senior, was an administrative clerk in Polish army and a teacher in the school. Karol Wojtyla had seen every tragedy in his childhood which made his faith in religion grow more strongly. He lost his mother before age 8, lost his brother and father before age 22. He was very bright in studies and one of the very fit athlete in his high school. He was a goalie in soccer, good swimmer, and mountain climber. The present Pope had dreamt of becoming a professional actor and a play writer. His dreams were shattered when Nazi’s occupied Poland in 1940 during second World War. To avoid imprisonment and deportation he had to work as a stone cutter in a quarry in Nazi army. Still he excelled there studying and wrote poems and play writing in an underground theatre . He travelled a lot and worked hard and did a teachers job for some time.

His father wanted to see him as a priest before he died. But God’s plans were different and his father died before he was ordained in 1946. He did his masters and doctorate in ethics and in 1954 was the professor of ethics at Catholic University of Lublin, the first Catholic University in Communist world at that time. He made a lasting impression at this Catholic University and was the most sought after teacher there. He grew more popular and in 1964 becomes the bishop of Krakow. Even his popularity has spread as far as Vatican and His Holiness Pope Paul VI made him the cardinal in 1967.

The greatness of this Pope lies in his simplicity and modesty and his humble beginning. Even in 1978 when Pope John Paul I died of a heart attack, no one has envisaged that a non-Italian will be the next Pope. He was the unanimous candidate in the 8^th round of balloting and he refused to keep any other name other than his successor’s name. He was the youngest Pope at 58 years of age at that time. He was the first non-Italian Pope in 456 years history of Catholic Church. Only Pope Adrian 6^th was the non-Italian Pope in year 1522. He was very approachable, amiable and affable Pope when compared to his former colleagues who were remote, clinging to Vatican and had their own aloofness nature. The present Pope is the most travelled Pope and gone all over the world. He has visited Jews and treats Jews as his elder brothers and brought that secular feeling in catholic world. He has visited even Feidal Castro, the communist Cuban leader during his visit to Cuba.

Just after 3 years after his appointment as the Pontiff of Vatican there was an attempt to assassinate him. As he was climbing the steps of Vatican square a young Turk shot him on 13^th May 1981. His name is Mehmet Ali Agca. The motive behind the assassination is not known. Pope was severely injured with two bullets were extracted from his abdomen and his arm. It was a marathon operation, which lasted for 6 hours, and Pope was hospitalised for 2 months after that. His faith in Virgin Mary grew to greater depths after this and Holy Father attributes this to a miracle by our Mother Mary. He went to the extent of meeting his would-be assassin in prison and forgiven his dastardly act. The would- be assassin has to say this to Pope John Paul “ how is that I did not kill you?” What transpired between them is not known. With this gesture he has shown what forgiveness means to Christianity and what it means to Catholics.

Till today some of the sufferings he endured in his early life are evident. He was hit by a car in 1940’s and had a fractured femur and soon hit by a truck next year. One can see the stoop in his shoulders when he is tired and fatigued which is evident till today. He had few operations on his knee and hip. He has been suffering from Parkinsonism, a progressive neurological disorder with tremors and unsteadiness. The Vatican is neither denying nor confirming that he is afflicted with Parkinsonism disease. With age his memory is also failing but many say he is lucid and still makes decisions and leads the church.

He is the most Popular Pope of all times. All religion accepts him well for his secular beliefs and he has met all Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders. He has travelled extensively even neglecting his health. He had his shares of criticisms and detractors. He has angered the Americans when he last visited there by giving a call and has to say this” lower your standard of living and learn to live with sharing your wealth with the third world” He is very reluctant to use birth control methods and his conservative approach on birth control, abortion, priestly celibacy, refusal to admit woman to priesthood, opposition to homosexuality and keep the relationship with in marriage have invited criticism all over the world. But he has stood with his convictions and he stood steadfast to his values and beliefs. His refusal to use birth control methods in AIDS has invited the comments like” his reluctance to use condoms even to save lives is incomprehensible” Many say that it will not give a chance to church its role in diseases like AIDS. Many still think that Pope John Paul connived with Americans and the capitalistic world for the fall of Russia and Communism. Pope has wept and expressed his unhappiness when the churches and its leaders were persecuted in Russia. Pope John Paul II is man of prayers and many find him engrossed in prayers most of the time and when alone many find him moving his lips. People call him that he takes his decisions on his knees with prayers as his weapon.

We all hope this Pope John Paul II will live long to celebrate the Holy mass and the beatification ceremony starting from 16^th October 2003. The celebration will last for 10 days and I hope and pray that he will have the energy and fervour to offer the High Mass and the physically rigorous ceremony. Pope John Paul II liked the youth and children very much and he would like to see our Mother Theresa beatified as a Saint before he dies. One thing is certain that is his legacy is difficult to fill and in my opinion he is the man of the 20th century. What he has done to the mankind and the catholic world is immeasurable. May he live long and lead the world and build a strong world where there is no strife between nations. He should have been given the Noble peace prize this year 2003 for his contribution to the world peace and his attempts to avert war and nations waging war on another. But the Noble peace committee has thought otherwise. He has remained as the darling of the crowds and masses.

 With due respects and prayers to His Holiness Pope John Paul II .

-- D. Nagarkar, 15/10/2003