04.09.05

BISHOP OF the Diocese of Fall River, George W. Coleman, converses with Pope John Paul II during a visit to the Vatican in 2003.

(Photo courtesy of Bishop Coleman)

Bishop Coleman issues statement on passing of His Holiness John Paul II FALL RIVER - The death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the life of this remarkable man, and on the Petrine ministl)' which he carried out so capably for the past 26 years, and, most especially, to thank God for the extraordinal)' gift that His Holiness has been to the Church and to the world, Bishop George W. Coleman said in a prepared statement. It continues: On the evening of Oct. 16, 1978, Pope John Paul addressed the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square in his first address as Pope. It was an era when the world was divided between East and West, when the arms race was at its height; in a word, it was a time in which people were looking for a sign ofhope.

The new Holy Father, in a strong, vigorous voice, expressed that hope when he exclaimed, "Be not afraid!"

That encouragement to live without fear, based in imperturbable faith in God, marked the life ofKarol Wojtyla and his ministry as Pope John Paul II. He was determined to serve as a pastor to his people, and his "parish" was the world.

He traveled to 129 countries, visiting the local churches throughout the world, giv-

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ing witness to his faith and proclaiming the hope that derives from it.

On an international level, the Holy Father, both personally and through the offices of the Holy See, worked tirelessly for peace. His support for the Solidarity movement in Poland and the inspiration he gave the people of Poland and other countries helped bring about the fall of Communist Regimes in the East. In more recent years, his has been a moral voice for the people ofthe world, encouraging the establishment of peace and decl)'ing the waging of war.

Moreover, Pope John Paul labored with great effort and concern to establish and promote a true culture of life.

His profound understanding of and respect for the human person was at the heart ofthe Holy Father's life and teaching. It accounts for his opposition to abortion and euthanasia, for his support of human rights, and for his love of all people, particularly the poor.

Let us pray for our Holy Father and commend him to the Lord who chose him to serve as His vicar on earth and who promised him and us that He would be with us to the end of time.

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Bishop sends condolences, prayers to Vatican on death of Holy Father The following is a letter from Bishop George ~ Coleman sent April 2, to Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City:

Your Eminence: On behalf of the priests, religious and laity of the Diocese of Fall River, I extend to you our sincere condolences on the very sad occasion of the death of our beloved Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. We will deeply miss this holy man, who has inspired and encouraged us, and who has consoled us by his fearless leadership.

Yet, even as our hearts are filled with profound sadness at the loss of our Holy Father, we are grateful to Almighty God for all the graces He has given to the Church and to the world, through the remarkable Pontificate of John Paul II. With extraordinary gratitude we remember how powerfully the Holy Father has given the world an example of genuine faith in Christ and courageous, heroic discipleship.

Please be assured that the people of the Diocese of Fall River are united in prayer with the Church throughout the world, in commending the very noble soul of our Holy Father to the mercy and love of God. With deep sentiments of sorrow and fraternal condolence, I am sincerely yours in Christ.

The letter was signed by Bishop Coleman.

Pope John Pa·ul II: Voice of conscience for world, modern-day apostle for Church

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY- Pope John Paul 1I, who died April 2 at age 84, was a voice of conscience for the world and a modem-day apostle for his Church.

To both roles he brought a philosopher's intellect, a pilgrim's spiritual intensity and an actor's flair for the dramatic. That combination made him one of the most forceful moral leaders of the modem age.

As head ofthe Church for more than 26 years, he held a hard line on doctrinal issues and drew sharp limits on dissent- in particular regarding abortion, birth control and other contested Church teachings on human life.

But when it came to the Vatican and the Church hierarchy, he was never a micromanager. He spent relatively little time on administrative issues, and his response to problems like the priestly sex abuse crisis was less direct than some would have preferred.

Especially in later years, his pontificate reflected personal trial and suffering. An athletic and energetic 58-yearold when elected, he gradually lost his ability to walk, to stand and to express himself clearly - the result of a nervous system disorder believed to be Parkinson's disease. By the time he cel- . ebrated his silverjubilee as pope in October 2003, aides were routinely wheeling him on a chair and reading his' speeches for him.

Yet he rejected suggestions ofretirement and pushed himself to the limits of his declining physical capabilities, convinced that such suffering was a form of spiritual leadership.

The first non-Italian pope in 455 years, Pope John Paul became a spiritual protagonist in two global transitions: the fall ofEuropean communism, which began in his native Poland in 1989, and the passage to the third millennium ofChristianity.

The start of the new millennium brought a surge in global terrorism, which the pope saw as a threat to interfaith harmony. He invited world religions to renounce violence and the logic of "religious warfare." He condemned the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as "inhuman" but urged the United States to react with restraint, and he sharply criticized the U.S.-led war against Iraq in 2003. .

As pastor of the universal Church, he jetted around the world, taking his message to 129 countries in 104 trips outside Italy, including seven to the United States. A linguist by training, he surprised and pleased millions by com~ municating with them in their own languages - which made it all the more poignant when his speaking abilities declined in later years.

At.times, he used the world as a pul-

pit: in Africa, to decry hunger; in Hiroshima, Japan, to denounce the am1S race; in Calcutta, Indi~, to praise the generosity of Mother Teresa. Whether at home or on the road, he aimed to be the Church's most active evangelizer, trying to open every comer of human society to Christian values.

Within the Church, the pope was just as vigorous and no less controversiaL He disciplined dissenting theologians, excommunicated self-styled "tradition-

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awaited pilgrimage to the Holy Land that year took him to the roots of the faith and dramatically illustrated the Church's improved relations with Jews.

He also presided over an unprecedented public apology for the sins ofChristians during darker chapters of Church history, such as the Inquisition and the Crusades.

In a landmark document in 2001, the pope laid out his vision ofthe Church's future. The apostolic letter, "Novo

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POPE JOHN PAUL II appears on the balcony of St. PetE;!r's Basilica Oct. 16, 1978, after being electeq the. 26.4th pop.e, the first from Poland. During his address that evening, he told the world that he felt "afraid to take on this appointment," but had done so in a "spirit of obe.dience" to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. (CNS file photo by Giancarlo Giuliani: Ca!hQIj.c Press Photo)· .

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alists" and upheld unpopular Church Millennio Ineu~ie" ("Atthe Beginning positions like the pronouncement of the New Millennium"), called for a against birth controL At the same time, "new sense of mission" to take Gospel he pushed Catholic social teaching into values into every area ofsocial and ecorelatively new areas such as bioethics, nomic life. international economics, racism and Over the years, public reaction to the ecology. pope's.mess..age and his decisions was He looked frail but detem1ined as h~ . mixed. He was hailed as a daring soled the Church through aheavy progJ;ll11) <' ·dalcritic, chided as the "last socialist," of soul-searching eveI.1ts during· the'. cheered by millions and caricatured as Great Jubilee of the Year. 2000, fulfill- an inquisitor. The pope never paid much inga dream ofhis pontificate. His long- , . attention to his popularity ratings.

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Pope John Paul's personality was powerful and complicated. In his prime, he could work a crowd and banter with young and old, but spontaneity was not his specialty. As a manager, he set directions but often left policy details to top aides.

His reaction to the mushrooming clerical sex abuse scandal in the United States in 2001-02 underscored his governing style: He suffered deeply, prayed at length and made brief but forceful statements emphasizing the gravity of such a sin by priests. He convened a Vatican-U.S. summit to address the problem, but let his Vatican advisers and U.S. Church leaders work out the answers. In the end, he approved changes that made it easier to defrock abusive priests.

The pope was essentially a private person, with a deep spiritual life something not easily translated by the media. Yet in earlier years, this pope seemed made for modem media, and his pontificate was captured in some lasting images. Who can forget the pope wagging his finger sternly at a Sandinista priest in Nicaragua, hugging a young AIDS victim in California or huddling in a prison-cell conversation With his would-be assassin, MehmetAli Agca?

EARLY YEARS Pope John Paul's early life was marked by personal hardship and by Poland's suffering during World War II. Karol JozefWojtyla was born May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, a small town near Krakow, in southern Poland. His mother died when he was nine, and three years later he lost his only brother to scarlet fever. When he was 20, his father died, and friends said Wojtyla knelt for 12 hours in prayer and sorrow at his bedside.

Remembered in high school as a bright, athletic youth with a contemplative side, Wojtyla excelled in religion, philosophy and languages. In 1938, he began working toward a philosophy degree at the University ofKrakow, joining speech and drama clubs and writing his own poetry.

The Nazi blitzkrieg of Poland Sept 1, 1939, left the country in ruins and . opened a new chapter in Wojtyla's life.

During the German occupation he helped set up an underground univer. sity and the clandestine "Rhapsodic Theater." At the same time he found work in a stone quarry and a chemical factory - experiences he later analyzed in poems and papal writings. Walking home one day after working a double shift at the Solvay chemical plant, he was struck by a truck and hospitalized for 12 days - the first in a lifelong series of physical hardships.

Wojtyla continued work after he enTurn to page four - Voice

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Voice

But on May 13, 1981, an assailant's bullets put his pontificate on hold. The pope, who was circling St. Peter's The pope's reign began like a cy- Square in an openjeep during a weekly clone. He set off for Mexico and the . audience, suffered serious intestinal Dominican Republic three months af-wounds. He was rushed to surgery at a ter his election and waded into a cru- Rome hospital; his'recovery took sevcial debate about the Church's social eralmonths, with a second hospitalizaand poiitical role in Latin America. On . tion for a blood infecti9n. . the way, he held the first ofmany papal Agca, a Turk who had threatened the .press conferences - aboard his char- .. pope in 1979, was arrested in St. Peter's

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tered Knikow's clandestine theological seminary in 1942. He had tried to join the Carmelite order but reportedly was turned'~way with the comment: "You are destined for greater things." He was ordained fow-years later, just as the new communist regime was ·taking aim at the PolIsh Church. He soon left for two years of study at Rome's' Angelicum University, where he earned· a doctorate in ethics, writing his thesis on the 16th-century mystic, St. John of the , Cross~' When he returned to Poland in i948, Father Wojtyla spent a year in a rural parish, then was assigned to a Krakow church, where he devoted most of his time to young people - teaching religion, playing soccer and leading philosophical discussions. He earned another doctorate in moral theology and began lecturing at Lublin University in 1953. He wrote numerous articles and several books on ethics, but still found time for hiking and camping in the ,nearby Carpathian Mountains.

His appointment as auxiliary of Krakow - Poland's youngest bishop - in 1958 caught him canoeing with friends. He traveled to Warsaw to formally hear the news, but was back on the water the same day.

KRAKOW AND ROME The future pope rose quickly through the ranks in Krakow, becoming archbishop in 1964. During the Second Vatican Council, he helped draft documents on religious liberty and the Church in the modem world, and in 1967 Pope Paul VI named him a cardinal - the second-youngest in the Church. He traveled widely, preached Pope Paul's Lenten retreat in 1976 and took a leading role in the world Synod of Bishops.

But despite his rapid ecclesiastical ascent, Cardinal Wojtyla remained a virtual unknown to many in the Church - until the evening of Oct. 16, 1978, when his election as pope was announcedto some 200,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square and to the world at large.

Pope John Paul set his papal style on that first night. Instead of merely blessing the crowd, he broke the "rules" and gave a heartfelt talk from the central balcony ofSt. Peter's. To the consternation of aides, he told the world that he felt "afraid to take on this appointment," but had done so in "a spirit of obedience" to Christ and Christ's mother.

He described himself as a pope "from a faraway nation" - but won over the mostly Italian throng in the square by speaking their language. He left them cheering loudly. After the final years of Pope Paul and the brief, fragile term of Pope John Paul I, this pope seemed to promise new energy for the Church.

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POPE JOHN Paul II prays inside the Church of the Agony, built near Jerusalem's Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed before his crucifixion. (CNS photo from Reuters) tered jumbo jet.

That same year, 1979, he met with the Soviet foreign minister; published an encyclical on redemption; strongly reaffirmed celibacy for priests; visited his Polish homeland; named 14 new cardinals; made a major ecumenical visit to the Orthodox in Turkey; and had a Swiss-born theologian, Father Hans Kung, disciplined for questioning papal authority.

It was the start of a remarkably personal papacy. The pope regularly drew crowds of more than a million people, and his popularity was satirically compared to that of a rock star.

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

Square and sentenced to life in prison for the shooting. He later claimed that Bulgarian agents had helped plan and carry out the attack, but his alleged accomplices were acquitted in a second trial. The pope publicly forgave his assailant, and in 1983 he visited Agca in a Rome prison cell for a quiet meeting of reconciliation. In 2000, with the pope's support, Italy pardoned Agca and returned him to Turkey.

Pope John Paul credited Mary for having protected him, and on the first anniversary of the shooting he made a thanksgiving pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.

There, he escaped injury when a knifewielding~ illicitly ordained priest lunged

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·.·.'Later~inhis pontificate, the pope 'published the ''third secret" of Fatima, ·\Vhich instead of predicting the end of the,worl<£' as many had believed, des<;ribed a· period of suffering for the '. Church and, the shooting ofa bishop in . white - a figure the pope believed was . 'linked to the attempt on his life., Soon after the shooting, the pope dispelled worries that it woUld slow him down for long. He went on the road about four times a year, eventually logging more than 700,000 miles.

In Catholic countries, the trips were his way of strengthening ties between the local Church and Rome. His 14 visits to Africa were part of a successful strategy of Church expansion in the Third World - in numbers of Catholics and indigenous clergy, the African Church doubled during Pope John Paul's term - and in 1994 the pope called anAfrican synod to celebrate the progress and map out new pastoral strategies. In predominantly non-Christian places like Asia and North Africa, he evangelized gently, stressing the common values shared by Christianity and other faiths, yet insisting that Jesus Christ alone can be seen as savior.

The pope's U.S. trips provided some historic and emotional moments. In 1979 he became the first pope to be received at the White House. During the sanle visit, U.S. Mercy Sister Theresa Kane gave a speech to the pontiff asking that women be allowed to participate in "all ministries of the Church."

Throughout his papacy, however, the pope insisted that the all-male priesthood was part of God's plan, and he formalized that position in a 1994 apostolic letter.

His trips to Denver in 1993 and Toronto in 2002 for World Youth Day sparked massive pilgrimages ofyoung people in North America. In 1995, addressing the U.N. General Assembly, he urged the organization to give new moral meaning to the phrase "family of nations."

CHURCH TENSIONS The issue ofdissent brought out the determined side of Pope John Paul especially when it involved theologians.

During the 1980s the Vatican's doctrinal congregation, headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, cracked down on several theologians whose teachings were deemed incompatible with Church positions. U.S. Father Charles Curran, for one, was stripped of his permission to teach at The Catholic University ofAmerica in 1986 because ofhis views on sexual morality and divorce.

Advocates of liberation theology, like Brazil's Franciscan Father Leonardo Boff, also found their writings closely monitored. In 1984, the Vatican warned theologians against adopting Marxist concepts such as Continued on page five

Continued from page four

embryo manipulation were morally wrong.

Clearly, the pope expected Catholics to take these rules to heart. During his 1987 U.S. trip, the pope said it was a "grave error" to think dissent from Church teachings is "totally compatible with being a 'good Catholic' and poses

"class struggle." Pope John Paul had seen how Marxism worked in Poland and did not trust it; moreover, he was wary ofany ideological contamination ofthe Gospel. The pope also kept a keen eye on the social activity of religious orders, a concem that led him to take

If many inside the Church saw the of his fellow bishops, then make his pope as a hard-liner, he saw himselfas . own decisions. He brought bishops toa reconciler between the liberal and gether frequently in synods that shored conservative wings ofthe Church. Part up traditional Church teaching - on ofhis job, he said in 1989, was to intro- the family, penance, priests and laity. duce "an element of balance" in the Disappointment with the synod format implementation of Vatican II reforms. led some, like Italian Cardinal Carlo He convened a 1985 Synod of Bish- Maria Martini ofMilan in 1999, to sugops, which strongly endorsed the gest that a Church-wide council was council's decisions but also said some needed to deal with lingering contro"abuses" should be corrected. versies in the Church.

The pope zeroed in on liturgy in a In Rome and on the road, the pope 1989 apostolic letter, saying the period constantly encouraged lay Catholics to of major liturgical changes was over. live the faith in their everyday lives. He urged bishops to root out "outland- favored zealous lay movements such as ish innovations" such as profane read- Opus Dei and in 2002 canonized its ings in place of Scriptural texts, in- founder, Msgr. Josemaria Escriva, in the vented rites and inappropriate songs. He face of some criticism. The pope also said the roles of priests and lay people found new models of Catholic virtue must not be confused - even with the in nearly every part of the globe, dedramatic shortage of priests in some claring more saints than all his predeareas. And he repeated his long-stand- cessors combined. ing warning against replacing individual Pope John Paul's pronouncements confession with general absolution. In on women were deeply affected by his 1994, after years ofstudy, the pope ap- devotion to Mary. His apostolic letter proved local use of altar girls. on women in 1988, using Mary as an Self-styled traditionalists like the late example, affinned their equal social and . French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre cultural dignity with men, but restated thought the pope was too liberal. When the ban on women priests. He asked for Archbishop Lefebvre ordained bishops economic equality between men and against papal orders in 1988, thus pro- women, but also for programs that voking a schism, the pope excommu- would allow women to stay at home nicated him. At the same time, he and care for children rather than seek brought some of the archbishop's fol- jobs. lowers back to the fold with special conPLEAS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE cessions, including use of the Those who pegged Pope John Paul preconciliar Tridentine-rite Mass. as a conservative often were surprised

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"~ CROWDS GATHER in St. Peter's Square Oct. 22, 1978, for the installation Mass of Pope John Paull!. After eight rounds of voting, Karol Wojtyla became the first non-Italian pope in 455 ,years, and the first Polish pope. More than 300,000 people attended the Mass.

(CNS photo by Arturo Mari) the unprecedented step of naming his no obstacles to the reception of sacraown delegate to govern the Jesuit order ments."

In one ofthe most ambitious projects from 1981 to 1983.

These and other policies led 163 Eu- ofhis pontificate, he presided over pubropean theologians to denounce in 1989 lication of a new universal catechism what they called "exaggerated hierar- in 1992, aimed at restoring. clarity in chical control" and "autocratic meth- Church teaching. It became a best seller ods" in the Church. The Vatican ac- in many countries, including the United cused the theologians offorming a pres- States.

In his landmark encyclical the next sure group and setting themselves up as a parallel teaching authority. In the year, "Veritatis Splendor" ("The Splen1990s, similar challenges were posed dor of Truth"), the pope delivered a in petition drives by dissenting Catho- wake-up call that went beyond Church membership. In exploring the fundalics in Europe and North America.

To counter doctrinal confusion, the mentals ofmoral theology, the pope said pope was continually drawing - or the Church's teachings were urgently highlighting - the line on difficult needed in a society that he described as moral questions. In a lengthy series of absorbed in self-gratification and driftaudience talks in 1984 he bolstered ing away from universal moral nonns.

Church arguments against artificial Soon afterward, he began a public crusade against parts ofa U.N. draft docubirth control.

In the 1990s he urged the world's ment on population and development, bishops to step up their fight against saying it promoted abortion, contracepabortion and euthanasia, saying the tion and a mistaken view of sexuality practices amounted to a modem-day and the family. This use of the papal "slaughter of the innocents." Not ev- pulpit deeply affected international deeryone agreed, but his sharpened cri- bate on the issues.

His 1995 encyclical, "Evangeliun1 tique of these and other "anti-family" policies helped make him Time Vitae, "("The Gospel ofLife") not only magazine's choice for Man of the Year condemned the growing acceptance of abortion and euthanasia, but also carin 1994.

In 1986, a Vatican document reiter- ried a strongly worded argument against ated moral opposition to homosexual capital punishment. In 1998 the encycacts and said homosexuality was an lical "Fides et Ratio" ("Faith and Rea"objective disorder." It drew strong son") warned of a growing separation criticism, especially in the United between theology and philosophy, with States. In 1987, a wide-ranging Vatican dire consequences for society and the document on bioethics said in-vitro fer- Church.

VATICAN II tilization, surrogate motherhood and

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POPE JOHN Paull! grimaces as he attempts to read his homily at an outdoor Mass in Roznava, Slovakia. (CNS photo from Reuters) The pope insisted on priestly and religious identity, in things big and small.

Early in his term, he made clear that religious and clergy should wear their habits and collars while in Rome.

"Catholic identity" became a rallying cry. In 1990, the pope issued norms to guarantee orthodoxy and a Catholic perspective in Church-run universities.

Collegiality, a main thrust ofVatican II, was a thorny issue for Pope John Paul. He tended to listen to the advice

at his repeated appeals for social and economic justice and his warnings about globalization. His social teaching was distilled in three major encyclicals: - "Laborem Exercens" ("On Human Work") in 1981 criticized the abuses of a "rigid capitalism" that values profit over the well-being ofworkers, but said Marxism's class struggle was not the answer; Continued on page 34

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

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Election of new pontiff follows detailed procedure

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - The voting by cardinals to elect the next pope takes place behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, following a highly detailed procedure last revised by Pope John Paul II. Under the rules, secret ballots can be cast once on the first day of the conclave, then normally twice during each subsequent morning and evening session. Except for periodic pauses, the voting continues until a new pontiff is elected.

Only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote in the conclave; older cardinals do not enter the Sistine Chapel. In theory, any baptized male Catholic can be elected pope, but current Church law says he must become a bishop before taking office; since the 15th century, the electors always have chosen a fellow cardinal.

Each vote begins with the preparation and distribution of paper ballots by two masters of ceremonies, who are among a handful of noncardinals allowed into the chapel at the start of the session.

Then the names of nine voting cardinals are chosen at random: three to serve as "scrutineers," or voting judges; three to collect the votes of any sick cardinals who remain in their quarters at the Domus Sanctae Marthae; and three "revisers" who check the work of the scrutineers.

The paper ballot is rectangular.

On the top half is printed the Latin phrase "Eligo in Summum Pontificem" ("I elect as the most high pontiff'), and the -lower hair is blank for the writing of the name of the person chosen.

After all the noncardinals have left the chapel, the cardinals fill out their ballots secretly, legibly and fold them twice.- Meanwhile, any ballots from sick cardinals are collected and brought back to the chapel.

Each cardinal then walks to the altar, holding up his folded ballot so it can be seen, and says aloud: "I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected." He places his ballot on a plate, or paten, and then slides it into a receptacle, traditionally a large chalice.

When all the ballots have been cast, the first scrutineer shakes the

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receptacle to mix them. He then transfers the ballots to a new urn, counting them to make sure they correspond to the number of electors.

The ballots are read out. Each of the three scrutineers examines each ballot one-by-one, with the last scrutineer calling out the name on the ballot, so all the cardinals can record the tally. The last scrutineer pierces each ballot with a needle through the word "Eligo" and places it on a thread, so they can be secured.

After the names have been read out, the votes are counted to see if someone has obtained a two-thirds majority needed for election - or a simple majority if the rules are changed later in the conclave. The revisers then double-check the work of the scrutineers for possible mistakes.

At this point, any handwritten notes made by the cardinals during the vote are collected for burning with the ballots. If the first vote of the morning or evening session is inconclusive, a second vote normally follows immediately, and the ballots from both votes are burned together at the end.

When a pope is elected, the ballots are burned immediately. By tradition, the ballots are burned dry - or with chemical additives to produce white smoke when a pope has been elected; they are burned with damp straw or other chemicals to produce black smoke when the voting has been inconclusive.

The most notable change introduced by Pope John Paul II into the voting process was to increase the opportunity of electing a pope by simple majority instead of twothirds majority, after a series ofballots. The two-thirds majority rule holds in the first phase of the conclave: three days of voting, then a pause of up to one day, followed by seven ballots and a pause, then seven more ballots and a pause, and seven more ballots.

At that point - about 12 or 13 days into the conclave - the cardinals can decide to move to a simple majority for papal election and can limit the voting to the top two vote-getters. In earlier conclaves, switching to a simple majority required approval of twothirds of the cardinals, but now that decision can be made by simple majority, too.

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

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Cardinal-electors to stay in modern Vatican residence VATICAN CITY (CNS) - When they are not gathered to vote in the Sistine Chapel, cardinals attending the coming conclave will stay in a modem Vatican City residence - far more comfortable quarters than the makeshift rooms of past papal elections.

The Domus Sanctae Marthae, a hospitality residence named after St. Martha, lies on the edge of Vatican City, and the cardinals will take short bus rides to the Sistine Chapel for their twice-daily voting sessions.

The five-story "Domus, " as it is commonly called in the Vatican, was. built in 1996 and typically houses clerical and lay guests who come to participate in Vatican conferences and events. But for the conclave its 131 rooms will be cleared out, and the cardinals will move in.

Because the Domus lies just inside the Vatican walls, in partial view of downtown Rome apartment buildings, some fear the "closed-door" nature of the conclave could be compromised.

But Vatican officials said measures would be taken to ensure that the cardinals do not communicate with the outside world and vice versa. For example, some cardinals on the higher floors may be forced to keep their

window shutters closed for the duration of the election.

The Domus will be off-limits to "unauthorized persons" during the conclave, but staff will be needed to take care of the residence's normal operations. The Domus is directed by an Italian priest and staffed by five nuns and 28 lay people.

When they come in and out of the residence, the' cardinals will pass a bronze bust ofPope John Paul II, who decided in 1996 that the conclave cardinals should stay in roomier路 quarters. Previously, the cardinals slept on cots in small, stuffy rooms next door to the Sistine Chapel.

While the Domus offers relative comfort, it is not a luxury hotel.

There's international cable TV, but the system will be disconnected for the conclave period. There are no recreational facilities, no bar and only one small coffee vending machine for the entire building.

The rooms of the Domus are simply furnished. There are 105 tworoom suites and 26 singles, so latearriving cardinals may be more cramped. Each suite has a sitting room with a desk, three chairs, a wall cabinet and large closet; a bedroom Turn to page 33 - Residence

Reactions From Across the Diocese Reactions to death of John Paul II coming in from across the diocese FALL RIVER - Personal sto- touched everybody's heart, and was ries of meetings and remembrances someone I really admired. He was of Pope John Paul II continue to so wonderful with young people. I come in from all comers of the Fall cried when I heard that he had died.

River diocese, as members of the I know he's at peace now and no clergy, religious and laity offer their longer in pain." prayers and comments on his passSacred Hearts Sister Marion ing.

Storjohann, another resident, said Msgr. John J. Oliveira, pastor of the late pontiff "always helped the St. Mary's Parish in New Bedford, people who were in need, even beand director of the Office of the Per- fore he became a priest. He was manent Diaconate, told The Anchor, very well educated and was always "The Holy Father was a rock in the up to date and knew what was gochanging waters of society. He was ing on in the world. He was always a man of strong faith and leadership a man for the people. He tried to through his words, encyclicals and promote peace wherever he could. availability to many countries. His He was a holy man, without doubt, was a personal witness as a man of and I admired him." prayer.

Marian Desrosiers, director of "When I met him he had a pen- the Pro-Life Apostolate in the dioetrating look where you could sense cese, said the late pope "has guided he was totally in contact with you," us and prepared us in the Pro-Life Msgr. Oliveira added. "The Church movement to spread the 'good today is a modem adaptation of the news' of the Gospel of Life to original Gospel message. The new people worldwide. He was truly a pope will continue that tradition father: he reached out to us as famthrough his own personality and ily and courageously taught us the modem technology:" , truth about the sacredness'and digMsgr. Edmund J. Fitzgerald, ex- nity of all human life, especially the ecutive director of Diocesan Health unborn. He clearly defined the 'new Facilities and pastor of St. John threats' to human life and guided us Baptist Parish, Westport, said the . lovingly to the answers on how to death ofPope John Paul II "is a very . counter these grave threats facing significant passage, not only for : mankind. Deep compassion and Catholics, but for people all around love for one another was always his. . the world. foundation for this gospel and he "He has done a tremendous. lived these truths without comproamount of good for the Church mise. He showed us. firsthand how through his writings and teachings to persevere in the struggle to prothat have most certainly had an ef- teet the marginalized and weakest feet on the parish level. He has also of our society even during times of personalized the papacy by trans- great personal suffering. Pope John forming the figure of the pope from .Paul II has prepared us' to be a a distant icon to a familiar face seen people oflife, integrity, compassion by millions. He will be greatly and a voice for all. We cannot find missed." the words to express our deep love Three residents of the. Catholic and thankfulness to him for a life Memorial Home in Fall'River, took he lovingly sacrificed for all. May time to offer their feelings. he rest in peace and pray for all of "There's so much to be said us to find the strength to continue about Pope John Paul II," said Do- this mission of life and mercy." minican Father Pierre Lachance, Mercy Sister Elaine Heffernan, former, well-known director of the episcopal representative to religious Shrine at St. Anne's Parish in Fall in the diocese, said, "Pope John River. "He was a most approachable Paul will be a great loss to the person - when you met him he Church and to the world." made you feel like you had known . She recalled an audience she had' him for a long time. He was some- with the late pontiff. one who was very close to us."

"Five years ago I had the opporNatalie Almeida, another resi- tunity to visit Rome. The vicars for dent at the home, said, "Pope John religious throughout the United Paul was someone I would have States had a private audience with loved to have as a friend. He the pope. This was a powerful

FORMER FALL River Bishop Daniel A. Cronin meets with the pontiff. prayer experience for me. He thanked us for our contribution to the Church and assured us of his support and prayers. You could feel the presence of a very holy man. He will be greatly missed."

Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, pastor of St. John Neumann Parish In East Freetown, said the Holy Father "was a tremendous pastor and example of the priesthood for me personally. I had the privilege of seeing him a number of -times because of my years of study in Rome."

Msgr. Avila noted that he had been in Rome during three papacies, those of Pope Paul VI from 1977. 1981; during the 33-day term of ,Pope John. Paul I; and at the start of .Pope John Paul II's pontificate.

"I have happy memories of being right under the balcony when the white smoke announced John Paul's election, and watched as he came out to greet the people for the first time," he recalled.

Later, when the pope came to celebrate Mass at the North American College in Rome, Msgr. Avila recalls being a member of the music ministry there and playing piano at the Mass.

"And as secretary to former Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, I was in Rome with him and met the pope on several occasions," he added.

"John Paul was a great man, a wonderful spiritual example for all of us for so many years, and I think it will be a long time before we realize just how great his effect on the Church was."

John F. Kearns Jr., director of communications for the diocese,

said the Holy Father "will be remembered as a great leader in the Church and for his faithfulness and conviction. I was most inspired by the way he connected so easily with the people; by how he drew their attention, lifted their hearts and motivated them."

He recalled an incident in which the pope, in an unplanned sequence, moved across two platforms to embrace handicapped musician Tony Melendez following a special concert.

"It was such a surprise ;to see the pope react so spontaneously ... just like we would," Keams said. "By his words and actions, the pope brought his message so powerfully to the faithful and the world to reflect on." .'

Father David R. Pignato, secretary to Bishop George W. Coleman, said Pope John Paul II '.'was extraordinary for many reasons, but above all, in my mind, he was a man of conviction and courage. His whole life was staked on the conviction that Jesus Christ is God, and that He has revealed to the world how we should live. And he had the courage to preach this message to a world that increasingly rejects it."

He added, "By his example of courage and perseverance, he showed me how a man truly lives his life for Christ. He inspired and encouraged me to accept my own vocation, and to give my life for Christ. He showed me what a noble and glorious life the priesthood is.

And he reminded us that the greatest goal in life is to be a saint."

The Anchor - Apri~ S, 2005

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.-----If there were ever any doubt, Pope John Paul 11 's funeral was evidence of how extraordinarily important a figure he was within the Church and within the world. People will be writing about his heroic life and historic pontificate long after the rest of us have been forgotten. I, too, will be writing about that larger legacy in future columns.

In this special edition of The Anchor, however, I would like to comment on the human side of the Holy Father, because I always found that equally as impressive as his almostlarger-than-life persona.

God gave me the extraordinary grace of meeting him about 10 times. During the past week, I've taken out the photographs of those encounters and let each photo speak its thousand or more words. On each of those occasions, his paternal warmth and holiness radiated.

The first time I met him was with my identical twin brother, Scot. Together we attended the morning Mass he celebrated in the private chapel of his papal apartment. We entered while he was finishing his holy hour before Mass. His sighs and groans were audible and unforgettable. I thought of what St. Paul had written: "We do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words" (Rom 8:26). On his large prie Dieu was a list of papers with prayer requests sent him by Catholics from around the world. Mass was noble, simple, and beautiful, as the pope fed us with the Body and Blood of his Divine Boss.

After Mass, he came out to a large sala to greet all of those in attendance. He slowly worked himself down the line, greeting the pilgrims in their native languages. He finally came to Scot and me. He noticed that we were twins, and did what most people do when they meet twins together: he quickly turned back and forth between our two faces to discern any disparities. He enthusiastically peppered us with short questions and handed us each a set of blessed rosary beads.

FATHER ROGER Landry, a parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Hyannis, and his parents, Roger and Midge Landry, meet the pope in November 2002.

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The Anchor - April 9, 2005

As he clasped my hand to give me the-ro-' on the spiritual paternity of the priesthool:Cco'uld sary, I asked him to pray for a woman back not have made me more conscious of being a home who was very ill. His response was some- "father! " Before I returned home to the diocese after thing that I have never forgotten. He looked me straight in the eye, paused and said, "Let us pray my studies, I had the chance to concelebrate together ri"ght now." He put his head down, his morning Mass with him. I was asked by closed his eyes, and prayed for several seconds, Archbishop Dziwisz to proclaim the Gospel, which was a very humbling task, announcing as I, stunned, tried to do the same.

I had asked hundreds of people in the past to God's saving word to this great modern evanpray for me or for particular intentions, but no gelist. After the Mass, I went up to him and one had acted on it so immediately. It would told him I was heading home to the United States to proclaim the Gospel and humbly requested his blessing. He queried what pastoral work I would be doing. I told him I would be working with the Portuguese in Fall River Putting Intb and as a Catholic high school chaplain. "Young the Deep people!" he enthusiastically exclaimed in Italian. I also said that my great aspiration was to

By Father Roger' popularize his teachings, particularly on the J. theology of the body. He responded, "For all of these, I give you my blessing with affection. " The last time I met him was on September have been easy for the Holy Father to promise 29, 2004. The group of pilgrims I was helping me that he would remember it later and include to lead was selected to have a photograph taken in a general prayer for all such intentions. But with the Holy Father after his weekly general he didn't even let seconds pass. That request audience. As we huddled around him, I knelt from a son in the faith was enough to get him slightly in front of his chair. As the photograto stop everything else he was doing. It revealed phers were snapping away, suddenly I felt his true priorities and the deep love for Christ's someone's hand on my head from behind, genflock that showed itself in deeds. tly pushing down. As I turned around, I saw it I also recall with great affection the time I was the Holy Father. He was staring at me inhad the joy to introduce my parents to him at tensely and I was startled as to what to make of the end of a private audience. As we knelt be- the gesture. It was certainly a sign of paternal fore him on the chair, he greeted my parents affection for a spiritual son and a younger with a warm, broad smile. I asked if he would brother in the priesthood. But I couldn't help give my parents his apostolic blessing on the but take it, too, as an exhortation in body lanoccasion of their 30th anniversary. He energeti- guage: "Rekindle the gift of God that is within cally said "volontieri!," Italian for "willingly!" you through the laying on my hands" (2 Tim My mother, predictably, already had two rivers 1:6). running down her face. But as my dad-in-theThe world has buried its greatest moral faith blessed my dad-in-the-flesh, my strong voice. The Church has interred an extraordinary father was crying too. Then John Paul turned vicar of Christ. But, most of all, we have entoward me and, with a twinkle in his eye, said, tombed a true and holy father - as we entrust "A now a blessing for the other father in the him back to the God who blessed us with him family," and blessed me as well. Ten homilies and through him.

Landry,

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Pope's vocation emerged after life as actor, laborer, playwright VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Over an unusually varied life before his the last several years of his pontificate, priestly ordination. As a teen, he split Pope John Paul n revealed an aspect of stone at a quarry, wrote poetry and suphis personal life that he did not want his- ported a network that smuggled Jews to tory to overlook. safety during the German occupation of In autobiographical books and in se- Poland. As a young priest, he was a falected talks, the pontiffemphasized that vorite with students at Lublin Univerwhat kept him going was not the power sity who flocked to his classes andjoined of the papacy but the spiritual strength him on camping, hiking and canoeing that flowed from his priestly vocation. trips. As the second-youngest cardinal ''With the passing of time, the most ever named by the Vatican, he ran an important and beautiful thing for me is informal office and celebrated holidays that I have been a priest for more than with Krakow actors.

50 years, because every day I can celIt should have been no surprise that ebrate Holy Mass!" he told some he would redefine the traditional role and 300,000 young people in Italy in 1997. demeanor of the papacy by traveling While many writers have recounted extensively, continuing to enjoy outdoor the pope's early life as a semi-political activities and taking on a wide range of pilgrimage under Nazi occupation and political and moral issues. communist domination in Poland, the As a high school student in his homepope himself remembered those years town ofWadowice, in southem Poland, as a crucial time of spiritual formation. Wojtyla impressed classmates by the inIn his 1996 book, "A Gift and Mys- tense way he would pray in church, a tery," he recalled how the sense ofbeing habit of deep meditation that remained called to the priesthood filled him with with him for life. joy, but it also cut him offfrom acquainThe Nazi takeover ofPoland in Septances and other interests. In one of the tember 1939 meant an official end to all most moving passages he ever wrote as religious training and cultural activities, pope, he said he still feels adebtto friends but Wojtyla attended an underground who suffered "on the great altar of his- university in Krakow and helped set up tory" during World War n, while he stud- a clandestine theater group that peried in a clandestine seminary. formed in stores and homes.

Karol Wojtyla, the future pope, lived In adqition to the quarry, he worked

KAROL WOJTYLA - pictured in right column, third from bottom - is featured in the 1939 group roster for the Krakow Theatre.

The future Pope John Paul II had written for and acted in dramatic productions. (CNS file photo)

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FATHER KAROL Wojtyla is pictured on a cycling outing in Poland in the early 1950s. His strong interest in outdoor activities continued through his years as Pope John Paul II, until the effects of age kept him away from strenuous pursuits. (CNS file photo) in a chemical factory - experiences that commuting by train from his Krakow provided material for his poetry and pa- parish. He published more than 100 arpal writings on labor. He participated in ticles and several books on ethics and daily Mass, spiritual exercises, Marian other subjects, and at age 36 became a devotion and Bible.study. full professor at the Institute ofEthics in Friends said that when his father died Lublin. in 1941, Karol knelt for 12 hours in Father Wojtyla's interest in outdoor prayer at his father's bedside. Soon af- activities remained strong, and younger ter, he withdrew from the theatrical companions called him "the etemal teengroup and began studying for the priest- ager." Groups of students regularly hood, a decision that surprised many of joined him for hiking, skiing, bicycling, his friends, who tried to convince him camping and kayaking, accompanied by his talent lay in the theater. prayer, outdoor Masses and theological He studied in a clandestine seminary . discussions. operated in Cardinal Adam Sapieha's Father Wojtyla was on a kayaking trip Krakow residence in defiance of Nazi in 1958 when, at age 38, he was named orders forbidding religious education. an auxiliary bishop of Krakow - the The archbishop saw him as a future youngest bishop in Poland's history. He Church leader. Yet the young man who continued to live a simple life, shunning wrote poems and a doctoral dissertation the trappings that came with his posion the mysticism ofSUobn ofthe Cross tion. For instance, he only left his was attracted to monastic contemplation. Krakow apartment for the more luxuriTwice during these years he tried to join ous bishop's residence after friends the Discalced Carmelites but was turned moved his belongings one day when he away with the advice: "You are destined was out of town. for greater things."

In 1964, shortly before the end ofthe He was ordained Nov. 1, 1946, just Second Vatican Council, he was named as the communist regime replaced the archbishop of Krakow. Just three years Germans at the end of the war. later, at the age of 47, he became a carFather Wojtyla was sent to study at dinal. But he continued his open apRome'sAngelicum University, where he proach in Krakow, seeing visitors withearned a doctorate in ethics. Back in out appointments and holding seminars Poland in 1948, the young priest was at the cardinal's residence for actors, assigned to the rural village ofNiegowic workers, students, priests and nuns. for a year before returning to Krakow.

In 1976, after touring several U.S. There, at St. Florian Parish, he de- cities and attending the International voted much of his attention to young Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia, people - teaching, playing soccer and Cardinal Wojtyla attended a conference inviting university students to his house of Polish-Americans at St. Mary's Colfor discussions. lege in Orchard Lake, Mich. True to After earning a second doctorate in form, having sat through a string of inmoral theology, Father Wojtyla began door meetings, one afternoon he canteaching at Lublin University in 1953, celed a session to go canoeing.

The Anchor路 April 9, 2005

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Important dates in Pope John Paul's life, papacy

By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - Here are some important dates in the life of Pope John Paul II: 1920: Karol Wojtyla is born May 18, baptized June 20 in Wadowice, Poland.

1929: His mother dies; he receives first Communion.

1938: Moves to Krakow with father; enters Jagellonian University, joins experimental theater group.

1939: Germany and Soviet Union invade Poland.

1940: University studies interrupted; he works as manual laborer during war.

1941: His father dies.

1942: Enters secret seminary in Krakow.

1944: Is hit by a car, hospitalized; is hidden in archbishop's home to avoid arrest by Nazis.

1945: World War II ends; he resumes studies at Jagellonian University.

1946: Is ordained priest November I; goes to Rome for graduate studies.

1948: Earns doctorate in philosophy; returns to Poland; completes master's and doctoral degrees in theology.

1949: Named assistant pastor in Krakow parish.

1953: Completes university exams; teaches ethics at Jagellonian University.

1954: State abolishes Jagellonian theology faculty; begins teaching philosophy at Catholic University of Lublin.

1958: Named auxiliary bishop of Krakow; ordained September 28.

1960: His book, "Love and Responsibility," is published.

1962: Goes to Rome for first session of Second Vatican Council.

INFANT KAROL Wojtyla is pictured in an undated photo in Wadowice, Poland. The future Pope John Paull! was born May 18, 1920, the second son of Karol and Emilia Wojtyla. His older brother, Edmund, was born in 1906. (CNS photo from Catholic Press Photo)

October 31 over 317 of Rome's 333 parishes.

1979: Visits Dominican Republic and Mexico, his first of 104 trips abroad as pope; also visits Poland, Ireland, United States and Turkey; publishes first encyclical, apostolic exhortation; convenes first plenary meeting of College of Cardinals in more than 400 years; approves Vatican declaration that Swiss-born Father Hans Kung can no longer teach as Catholic theologian. .

1980: Convenes special Dutch synod to straighten out problems in Dutch Church; becomes first modem pope to hear confessions in St. Peter's Basilica.

1981: Is shot, severely wounded May 13; names Cardinal Joseph Continued on page 11

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1963: Attends Vatican II second session, is named archbishop of Krakow December 30.

1964: Is installed as archbishop of Krakow; attends council's third session.

1965: Makes three trips to Rome

TEN-YEAR-OLD Karol Wojtyla - pictured in second row, second from right - poses with his class in 1930 on a visit to the Wieliczka salt mines in Poland. His father, Karol, is also in the photo - second row, fourth from right. The future Pope John Paul II attended Marcin Wadowita School in Wadowice, Poland. (CNS file photo)

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to help redraft Vatican II document on Church in modem world; attends final council session.

1967: Is made cardinal June 28; named to first world Synod of Bishops but stays home to protest government's denial of a passport. to Poland's primate, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski. . 1969: Visits United States, starting a series ofpastoral visits to many parts ofworld; attends bishops' synod in Rome.

1971: Attends first ofseveral bishops' synods in Rome; is elected to its permanent council. .

1976: Visits United States, Canada.

1978: At age 58 is elected 264th pope and bishop ofRome October 16, formally inaugurates his ministry

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

KAROL WOJTYLA is pictured at his first Communion May 25, 1929. The future Pope John Paul II received the sacrament at the Church of Our Lady in Wadowice, Poland, one month after the death of his mother, Emilia. (CNS photo from Catholic Press Photo)

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John Paul II Continuedfrom page J0 Ratzinger head of Vatican doctrinal congregation.

1982: Marks anniversary of attempt on his life with trip to Fatima, Portugal; meets with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat; makes Opus Dei the Church's first personal prelature.

1983: Promulgates new Code of Canon Law; opens Holy Year of Redemption; visits. would-be .assassin, Mehmel Ali Agca, in prison. .

1984: Establishes diplomatic relations with United States; approves new concordat with Italy; visits World Council of Churches headquarters in Geneva.

1985: Warns that abortion in Europe is "demographic suicide"; convenes special bishops ~ synod' to review 20 years since Vatican II.. .

1986: Condemns apartheid in South Africa; makes historic visit to Rome's synagogue; calls world religious leaders to Assisi to pray for peace; says theologians who propagate dissent violate Catholics' right to true teaching; approves Vatican decision barring U.S. Father Charles E. Curran from teaching as a Catholic theologian.

1987: Opens Marian year and writes encyclical on Mary; approves Vatican documents on beginning-oflife issues, international debt; toplevel Vatican meeting called to resolve Catholic-Jewish controversies; second visit to United States is 36th trip abroad.

Lifespan

1988: Approves issuance of Holy See's first public financial report; issues encyclical, "On 'Social Concerns"; issues letter defending women's equality but saying they cannot be ordained priests; sets up Vatican commission to try reconciling followers of schismatic Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.

1989: Is widely seen as key figure in collapse ofcommunism in Eastern Europe.

1990: Issues first uniform law code for Eastern C'~tholi~ ~hurches; issues global norms for Catholic higher education; approves Vatican instruction on theologians; estibl{shes diplomatic relations with Soviet Union.

1991: Issues encyclical marking 100 years of,Catholic social teaching; . convenes specil,lIEuropean sYnod to deal with rapid changes in wake of communism's collapse.

1992: Has benign tumor on colon removed; issues official "Catechism of the Catholic Church," first such document since 16th century; receives study acknowledging Church erred in condemning Galileo.

1993: U.S. visit for World Youth Day is his 60th trip abroad; writes first papal encyclical on nature of moral theology.

1994: Declares teaching that women cannot be priests must be held definitively; establishes diplomatic relations with Israel; publishes book, "Crossing the Threshold of Hope"; named Time magazine's "Man of the /' Year."

KAROL WOJTYLA is held by his mother, Emilia, in this undated photo. The future Pope John Paul II was born May 18, 1920, to Emilia and Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland. Emilia died in 1929.

(CNS photo from Catholic Press Photo)

A YOUNG Karol Jozef Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II, is pictured with his father, also Karol, in a photo taken in the mid1920s. Wife and mother Emilia died when Karol was nine. His older brother, Edmund, died of scarlet fever three years after their mother's death. (CNS file photo)

1995: Issues major encyclicals on human life, ecumenism.

1996: Urges total ban on nuclear testing, global land mine ban; marks 50 years as priest.

1997: Names St. Therese of Lisieux a doctor of the Church; presides at synod for-America, one of a series of regional synods.

1998: Historic Cuba visit is 81 st trip abroad; starts first permanent Catholic-Muslim dialogue.

1999: Joint Catholic-Lutheran declaration on justification is signed; unseals Holy Door in St. Peter's to start jubilee year 2000.

2000: Presides at numerous jubilee year events in Rome; makes historic visit to Holy Land.

2001: Issues apostolic letter on the new millennium; in Syria, becomes

first pope to enter a mosque.

2002: Convenes third interreligious day of peace in Assisi; visit to Toronto for World Youth Day is 97th trip abroad; given honorary citizenship of Rome.

2003: Marks 25th anniversary as pope; beatifies Mother Teresa of Calcutta, one of record number of beatifications and canonizations under his pontificate.

2004: Opens Year ofthe Eucharist; returns revered saints' relics to Orthodox patriarch ofConstantinople; pubIishes fourth book as pope, "Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way." 2005: Publishes new book, "Memory and Identity: Conversations Between Millenniums"; hospitalized, undergoes tracheotomy. Dies April 2, 2005.

The Anchor路 April 9, 2005

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New traditions: Pope .invented own variety of papal customs . VATICAN CITY (CNS) - If there's anything Pope John Paul II loved more than following traditions, it was inventing new ones.

During his pontificate, the Polishborn pontiff filled his calendar with annual events of every variety: hearing confessions, baptizing babies, visiting Rome parishes or holding youth rallies, to name a few.

That's on top of the traditional papal ceremonies he inherited when elected in 1978. Only when his health and mobility seriously declined in his later years did he cut back - reluctantly - on several of these selfstyled customs.

In 1980, he instituted the practice of hearing confessions in St. Peter's Basilica on Good Friday, apparently becoming the first pope in history to hear the confessions of ordinary Catholics.

The year before, he began writing an annual Holy Thursday letter to priests of the world, as a sign of his special concern for the priesthood and the burdens of pastoral ministry.

The pope liked to move around, and in 1979 he revived the practice ofleading an Ash Wednesday procession on Rome's Aventine Hill, before placing ashes on the foreheads of cardinals, bishops and religious at the

Basilica of Santa Sabina. The Lenten season "cannot pass unnoticed," he remarked during the ceremony.

For many years on March 19, feast of St. Joseph, he traveled to an Italian factory or other workplace to highlight Church concerns about the world of labor.

"In some ofthese events and meetings, the pope wanted to be more visible," said one Vatican official, adding that the pope's presence gave events "a sense of a 'happening. '" The pope also wanted to be seen engaged directly in pastoral action, not sitting behind a desk in his private library.

The events often had a sacramental character. Soon after he was elected, he began ordaining bishops in a lengthy liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica on the feast of the Epiphany.

Later, he made an annual tradition of baptizing babies from around the world in a Mass marking the feast of the baptism of the Lord.

World Youth Day, launched by the pope in 1986, has become one of the most popular international celebrations on the Church calendar. Every two or three years, Pope John Paul presided over a mega-gathering of TWO CHILDREN from Maryland embrace the pope upon his young people. arrival in Baltimore Oct. 8, 1995. (CNS photo) The pope also established the World Day of the Sick February 11, . Another tradition Pope John Paul feast路of Our Lady of Lourdes, for . brought to the Vatican was a simple which he prepared an annual mes- one that resonated with Catholics all . sage. over the world: a Christmas tre~ ~np , .

In .1997, he instituted a World Day a Nativity scene路in St. Peter's'Sqii~re, . of Consecrated Life, celebrated Feb- just below the papal window. 'tike ruary 2, feast of the Presentation of thousands of others, he visited'it dur~路 the Lord, and celebrated Mass to in- ing the Christmas season. ' augurate it.

-Not all the pope's new traditions One of Pope John Paul's biggest were publicized, however. On his innovations was his pastoral visits to birthday, he usually invited cardinals .,\ Rome parishes. Pope Paul VI paid in Rome who were over age 80 to a occasional visits to churches in his lunch and some open talk about diocese, but this pope made it system- Church issues. It was a sign that he . atic, calling on more than 300 par- appreciated their input, even though, ishes. In 2002, when ailing health he maintained the rule excluding made such visits too cumbersome, he them from a conclave because of amended the tradition to have repre- their age. " sentatives ofRome parishes visit him For many years, just after Christat the Vatican. It was a natural choice mas, the pope often paid a couple of for the Polish pope - hl:: had visited barely noticed visits to two other parishes week after week as arch- groups: He met with garbage collecbishop of Krakow and considered it tors at a small office near the Vatican one of the best parts of his job. and with nuns and homeless people For many years, the pope also re- at a shelter operated by Missionaries vived the custom of a December 31 of Charity in the Vatican. papal visit to a Rome church to offer Small traditions - but, like the bfg POPE JOHN Paul II smiles as he holds a boy during his visit to ~ year-end "Te Deum" ofthanksgiv- ones, Pope John Paul made room for Kampala, Uganda, in 1993. (CNS file photo) mg. them on his calendar.

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The Anchor - April 9, 2005

His Holiness Pope John Paul II In Loving Memory

His Holiness Pope John Paul II May He Rest In Peace St. Stephen Parish, Attleboro

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The World Has Lost It's Greatest Leader In Search for Eternal Brotherhood His Holiness Pope John Paul II St. Patrick Parish, Wareham

His Holiness Pope John Paul II Requiescat in Pace St. John the Baptist Parish, New Bedford

His Holiness Pope John Paul II Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him 0 Lord!

Sacred Heart Paris.h, North Attleboro

His Holiness Pope John Paul II In Loving Memory Our Lady of Purgatory Parish, New B,~drorc;J

His Holiness Pope John Paul II He Died In Search of Lasting Peace For All Mankind Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Osterville

His Holiness Pope John Paul II May God Grant Him Eternal Rest Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Family, New Bedford

His Holiness Pope John Paul II May the Almighty Grant Him the Peace He Sought for All the Peoples of the World St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Attleboro

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in New Bedford celebrates 100 years on Earth as the Holy Father celebrates Forever in Heaven

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The Anchor - April 9, 2005

John Paul II -

Illnesses

As pope's health deteriorated, his well-known voice fell silent

By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - As Pope John Paul II's health deteriorated in his final years, his once-athletic frame turned rigid and his voice fell silent.

The pope's final months brought a succession of medical interventions to alleviate breathing and swallowing problems, including a tracheotomy and the use of a nasogastric tube for nourishment.

While he occasionally was wheeled to his apartment window to bless the crowd, his famed communication skills had all but disappeared.

The tracheotomy, in which a tube is placed in the throat, left the pontiff barely able to use his vocal cords.

As early as 2002, he was pronouncing speeches and sermons only in part, handing the rest of his texts to aides for reading. By early 2004, he no longer walked in public; his progressive immobility- forced the pope to move on a wheeled platform at major ceremonies and to give up路 his role as celebrant in many liturgies.

Papal trips were briefer and closer to home.

In 1996, the Vatican announced the pope was suffering from an "extrapyramidal" nervous system disorder. Although the Vatican never specified further, the disease was believed to be Parkinson's, and its symptoms became increasingly noticeable: a shaking left arm, slurred speech, unsteadiness, labored breathing and a rigid facial expression.

He suffered through an array of other health troubles, including an arthritic knee, a broken thigh bone, a

dislocated shoulder, an appendectomy, a colon tumor and problems related to the 1981 attempt on his life.

Following were some of his more prominent health problems.

- May 13, 1981: Shotthree times - in lower abdomen, right forearm and left index finger - as he entered St. Peter's Square for a general audience. No vital organs hit. Bullets tore multiple holes in intestines, shattered second and third bones of left index finger and seriously wounded right forearm. Underwent five hours ofsurgery at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic; received six pints of blood. Doctors said prognosis was guarded because of danger of infection.

- May 27, 1981: Dr. Gianfranco Fineschi, orthopedic director of Gemelli Polyclinic, told Vatican Radio the pope's left index finger was "injured irreversibly" and he would not regain full use of it. ...:- June 20, 1981: Re-hospitalized with inflammation ofright lung, high fever.

- June 24, 1981: Doctors at Gemelli Polyclinic diagnosed pope with a cytomegalovirus infection, a herpestype viral disease. Two days later, Dr. Emilio Tresalti,路 director of Gemelli Polyclinic, said the pope's CMV infection was probably caused by the blood transfusions he received.

Tresalti said neither law nor health practices required CMV tests for blood donors.

- Aug. 5, 1981: Underwent successful one-hour operation to reverse colostomy inserted May 13 during abdominal surgery following assassi-

DISABLED PEOPLE applaud Pope John Paul II as he arrives to celebrate the Jubilee Mass for Disabled Dec. 3, 1999.

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POPE JOHN Paul II is helped by aides after being shot in St. Peter's Square May 13,1981. nation attempt.

- July 15, 1992: Doctors at Gemelli Polyclinic removed an orangesized, noncancerous tumor from pope's colon. His gallbladder alsowas removed because it contained numerous gallstones.

- Nov. 11, 1993: Dislocated shoulder and fractured shoulder socket in a fall on the steps in the Hall of the Benediction at the Vatican.

Doctors at Gemelli Polyclinic reset shoulder under general anesthesia.

- April 28, 1994: Broke right thigh bone in a fall while getting out of the bathtub.

-April 29, 1994: Underwent twohour operation at Rome's Gemelli hospital to replace head ofthe bone, where it fit into the hip, with a metal prosthesis. The pope walked with a cane for several months and relied on it for support more frequently as he got older.

- Dec. 25, 1995: Sick with a light fever and upset stomach, was forced to abruptly break off his Christmas blessing to the world and shorten his holiday schedule. Missed Christmas morning Mass for first time since his election in 1978.

-March 15, 1996: Suffered from a "fever syndrome of a digestive nature," according to Vatican spokesman.

- Sept. 11, 1996: Spokesman said pope suffered "extrapyramidal" nervous system disturbances, which can indicate Parkinson's disease, as evident in tremors in pope's left arm that had increased in previous months.

- Sept. 16, 1996: Vatican announced pope had inflamed appendix.

- Oct. 8, 1996: Underwent successful appendectomy. Doctors ruled out any more serious intestinal disorder.

- June 12, 1999: During his Poland trip, received three stitches to his scalp after a fall in his Warsaw residence.

- June 15, 1999: During trip to Poland, a bout with the flu forced the pope to miss Mass for a million people in his former archdiocese of Krakow and postpone another planned stop.

- Dec. 29, 1999: For the first time, the pope used a wheeled platform instead of walking down the aisle ofSt. Peter's Basilica. It became standard at his appearances at the Vatican and elsewhere.

- March 23, 2003: The pope began using a hydraulic, wheeled chair that allowed him to celebrate Mass while seated.

- Oct. 19, 2003 : For the first time, at the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the pope did not pronounce a single word of his sermon, allowing an aide to read the text in full.

- Feb. 1,2005: Suffering from the flu, Pope John Paul was rushed to Gemelli Hospital with severe breathing problems caused by an inflammation in his throat. He was released Feb. 10.

- Feb. 24, 2005: Pope is again taken by ambulance to Gemelli with a recurrence of the breathing problems; doctors perform tracheotomy.

- March 30, 2005: A tube for feeding is inserted through the pope's nose to his stomach to aid nutrition.

The Anchor路 April 9, 2005

15

. John Paul II ~ His fJapacy .

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As dominant figure on world stage, pope used his moral leadersh'ip

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY- Pope John Paul II spent more than 26 years as a domi-

nant figure on the world stage, using his moral leadership to promote human rights, condemn ethical failings and plead for peace.

He had the ear of presidents, prime ministers and kings, who came in a steady stream for private audiences at the Vatican. Although the pope's fading health in later years made these oneon-one meetings less substantive, his encounters with U.S. and Soviet leaders in the 1980s and '90s gave a spiritual impetus to the fall of European communism.

More than any previous pontiff, he pushed religious teachings into the center of public debate, arguing that universal moral nonns - such as the sanctity of life - are not optional for contemporary society.

The pope's bold words and gestures won acclaim, but not from all quarters.

As his pontificate wore on, his message increasingly went against conventional thinking on issues like abortion, gay marriage and genetic research.

When it came to war,the pope gave no comfort to those pressing for the use of military force. His outspoken opposition to the U.S.-led war on Iraq in 2003 was based on the conviction that both sides should have done more to settle the dispute peacefully. He mobilized an unprecedented, though unsuccessful, diplomatic effort to help pre-vent hostilities and to preserve the role of the United Nations in global peacemaking.

Following the Sept. 11,2001, terrorist attacks by extremists acting in the name ofIslam, the pope led a spiritual campaign against all violence in the name ofreligion. He convened a meeting of Muslims, Christians, Jews and others in Assisi in early 2002; the gathering produced ajoint statement against terrorism.

Pro-Life issues brought out a fighting spirit in the Polish-born pontiff. In 1994, for example, he challenged U.N. population planners on abortion and birth-control policies and steered an international development conference toward a moral debate on life and family issues.

The pope and his aides took some flak for that. But as he aged, he seemed more determined than ever to speak his mind, applying Church teaching to technical questions such as economics, biology and demographics, and prodding individual consciences on what he has

16

trian President Kurt Waldheim.

Many observers, including fonner U.S. ambassadors to the Vatican, said Pope John Paul's influence on world events was tremendous. They praised his political savvy, reflected less in the public realm than in behind-the-scenes efforts by Vatican diplomats. The pope's tenure saw a near-doubling ofthe number ofcountries with which the Vatican holds diplomatic relations.

At the same time, his flair for the dramatic gesture helped make him the most-televised pontiffin history. That was a fonn of global influence that this pope never underestimated. Millions watched him walk through crowds of African poor or visit a shantytown family in Latin America.

As the pope once said, one reason he kept returning to these places was that he knew the cameras would follow, spotlighting human problems around the globe.

The pope was a consistent critic of war and a booster ofpeace, and during his pontificate the Vatican issued major statements calling for disarmament.

His aides successfully headed off a shooting war between Chile and Argentina in 1978.

But sometimes the pope's peace efforts went unheeded, to his bitter disappointment. That was true not only in Iraq; his warnings about conflagration in the Balkans and his horror at ethnic fighting in Africa illustrated the limits POPE JOHN Paul II greets Lech Walesa - Nobel Peace Prize of papal influence. winner and head of Solidarity - in Gdansk in June 1987. The pope's When Pope John Paul first addressed public comments defending the labor union, and his visit to the the United Nations in 1979, he emphagrave of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, a pro-Solidarity priest killed by sized that harmonious international rePolish police, were clear signals to the communist government of lations were deeply tied to a proper his commitment to Poland's freedom. In June 1989, communist understanding of freedom and respect rule came to an end. Walesa became president the following year. for moral precepts. That was a message he honed over the years, in face-to-face (eNS file photo) meetings with world leaders and in public speeches. ecutions in the United States. After one But the pope was also a sometimesReturning to the United Nations in dramatic plea during his visit to St. unwelcome critic of capitalism, warn- 1995, frailer but just as forceful, he Louis in 1999, the sentence of a Mis- ing that the profit motive alone would again insisted that the "family of nasouri death-row inmate was commuted. never bringjustice and cautioning about tions" must be founded on strong moral Duringjubilee celebrations in 2000, the effects of"globalization" in the post- principles and warned of''unspeakable the pope continually prodded and pres- communist era. offenses against human life and freesured global financial powers to forgive Modem leadership is often a ques- dom" in today's world. at least part ofthe Third World debt- tion ofpersonal rapport, and Pope John The pope never stopped prodding a request that added a moral dimension Paul met with world figures across the the world's conscience, nor did he shy to the issue and helped bring about debt spectrum. During his pontificate, every away from appealing directly to heads relief for some of the poorest nations.

U.S. president made a pilgrimage to the of state.

The pope conferred with presidents, Vatican, including President George W. Visiting Cuba in 1998, he challenged stood up to tyrants and preached to Bush in 2001,2002 and 2004.

Castro's government to allow freedom crowds of more than a million people.

The pope's door almost always was ofexpression and a wider Church role Almost immediately after his election open to the world's powerful, a policy in society. in 1978, he began using the world as a that brought controversial figures to his In these and other interventions, the pulpit: decrying hunger from Africa; private library - among them Pales- pope felt certain that he acted in the denouncing the arms race from tinian leader Vasser Arafat, Cuban name of civilians who had little or no Hiroshima, Japan; and promoting hu- President Fidel Castro and fonner Aus- voice in world events. called a worldwide "moral crisis."

"The Gospel of Life," his 1995 encyclical on Pro-Life issues that he addressed to "all people ofgood will" and sent to government leaders around the globe, reflected the pope's sense ofresolve.

"To speak out on an issue like abortion confirms this pope's leadership in a dramatic way. Ifa pope doesn't try to awaken ethical responsibility, what is his value?" said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

The pope's Pro-Life stand also virtually excluded the death penalty, and he made frequent appeals against ex-

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

man equality from caste-conscious India.

As Poland's native son, he had a special interest and a key role in the demise of European communism. For years he criticized the moral bankruptcy of the system, to applause in the West.

His visits to his homeland helped light the fire ofrefonn, which eventually led to the first noncommunist government in the Soviet bloc.

In an astute political move, he cultivated an ally in Mikhail Gorbachev, whose "glasnost" policies set the stage for the breakup ofthe Soviet Union and the return of religious freedom.

John Paul II -

His Legacy

Reconciliation with Jews a good hallmark ofJohn Paul's papacy

By JERRY FILTEAU CATliOUC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON- What Pope John Paul II did to advance reconciliation between Catholics and Jews will go down in history as one of the hallmarks ofhis papacy.

Four moments stand out particularly for their symbolism: - 1979. Back in Poland for the first time since his election to the papacy, he prayed at the Auschwitz concentration camp. He paused at the Hebrew inscription commemorating the Jews killed there and said, "It is not permissible for anyone to pass by this inscription with indifference."

- 1986. He went to a Rome synagogue to pray with the city's Jewish community. Noting Christianity's unique bond with Judaism, he said, "You are our beloved brothers .,. you are our eIder brothers" in the faith ofAbraham, - 1994. He attended a Vaticanhosted concert commemorating the Holocaust, Hitler's World War II effort to exterminate all Jews. "We risk making the victims ofthe most atrocious deaths die again ifwe do not have a passion for justice," he said.

- 2000. After meditating at Jerusalem's Western Wall, he placed in the wall awritten prayer to God expressing deep sadness for all wrongs done to Jews by Christians. It ended, "Asking your forgiveness, we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant."

Under Pope John Paul, the Vatican published guidelines on how Catholics should teach and preach about Jews and Judaism and issued a major document on the Holocaust that expressed repentance for the Christians' failure to oppose the persecution of Jews. In 2000 the pope presided at a liturgy of repentance for the wrongs ofCatholics toward Jews.

Less than five months into his papacy, he met with leading representatives of world Judaism. In that important first meeting, he reiterated the Second Vatican Council's condemnation ofantiSemitism and pledged to foster Catholic-Jewish dialogue and "do everything in my power for the peace of that land which is holy for you as it is for us."

Meetings with representatives ofthe local Jewish community were a regular feature in his travels to 129 countries around the world.

Eugene Fisher, associate director of

the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, said: "Pope John Paul met with more Jews and Jewish communities in more places around the world than all the previous popes since Peter."

The most striking of these encounters was the pope's one-mile trip across the Tiber River in 1986 to the Great Synagogue ofRome. It was believed to be the first time since Peter that a pope had entered the Rome synagogue, and symbolically it marked a watershed in Catholic-Jewish relations.

Visiting Germany in 1980, he summarized the proper Catholic approach to Judaism with the words: "Who meets Jesus Christ meets Judaism." He described Jews as "the people of God of the Old Covenant never retracted by God." In his weeklongjubilee pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the pope visited Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial, and met with Holocaust survivors, including about 30 from his Polish home town ofWadowice. He greeted some by name.

Three days later the sight of the aging, stooped pope praying as he pressed a trembling hand against the ancient stones ofthe Western Wall struck a chord with Jews around the world.

When Jews make their pilgrimage to Jerusa\e,m to pray at the wall and leave prayer notes in its crevices, the notes usually blow away in a few days. The pope's note was removed and placed on display at the Yad Vashem museum.

As a boy, Karol Wojtyla, the future pope, played with Jewish classmates in Wadowice. His papal dealings with Jews and Judaism reflected that lifelong personal relationship.

In 1993, when he had a historic meeting with Israel's ChiefAshkenazi Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, the rabbi said afterward that the pope and he and his older brother spent most ofthe time reminiscing about growing up in Poland. The rabbi's older brother, Naphtali Lau-Laviv, had been born in Wadowice, and their mother's uncle had been rabbi there before World War II. The pope remembered "names, addresses, houses, buildings, everything," Rabbi Lau said.

Rabbi Lau said at one point he asked the pope about a story ofa young Polish priest after the war who had refused a Polish Catholic couple's request to baptize a Jewish orphan they had adopted,

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POPE JOHN Paull! places a prayer in a crevice of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, March 26, 2000. Speaking to ecumenical leaders on the historic trip that included visits to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories, the pontiff prayed that the Holy Land would be a homeland to all faiths and peoples. (eNS file photo by Arturo Mari) out ofrespect for the wishes ofthe boy's dead parents. The pope told him he was that priest and still recalled the episode With emotion, the rabbi said.

In his book "Crossing the Threshold of Hope," Pope John Paul said of his relations with Jews, "I remember, above all, the Wadowice elementary school, where at least a fourth of the pupils in my class were Jewish."

Among them he recalled Jerzy Kluger, a boyhood friend with whom he renewed his friendship after he was elected pope. Their meetings and correspondence were the subject of a book by veteran Vatican journalist Gian Franco Svidercoschi, "Letter to a Jewish Friend."

Rabbi James Rudin, senior interreligious affairs adviser to the American Jewish Committee, said that during the 1994 Vatican concert commemorating the Shoah - the Hebrew word for the Holocaust - the pope "was not in Rome; he was in Poland in 1939," hearing the voices of Jews who were murdered.

"In his talk afterward, he said, 'They are crying out to us: Do not forget us, do not forget us,,,, the rabbi said.

The Church's policy toward Jews ''was not an academic exercise for him," Rabbi Rudin added. "He understood Jews not with his head only, but with his heart."

Such personal connections help explain the extraordinary depth of the pope's commitment to building Catholic-Jewish bridges. But it takes another step to comprehend the theological insights into a positive Catholic appreciation of Judaism that developed and solidified as part of a changing Catholic cultural perspective during his papacy.

Some of those insights were honed in the fires ofcontroversy.

The pope's meeting with U.S. Jewish leaders in Miami in September 1987

exemplified the tensions that accompanied Catholic-Jewish rapprochement during his papacy.

In the months before his 1987 U.S. visit, many Jewish leaders - already angered by a 1982 papal meeting with Palestinian leaderVasserArafat-called for a boycott in Miami because of the pope's audience with Austrian President Kurt Waldheim, whose World War II ties to a Nazi military unit involved in war crimes had just become public knowledge.

Only an emergency summit ofAmerican Jewish leaders with the pope at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, arranged by Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore - then bishop of Harrisburg, Pa., and episcopal moderator ofU.S. Catholic-Jewish relationssaved the Miami meeting.

In Miami, the pope repeated the promise he made at Castel Gandolfo, that the Vatican would publish a Catholic statement on the Holocaust and antiSemitism.

Even that document, issued with a papal introduction 11 years later, drew mixed reaction.

It won universal approval for its ''mea culpa" about past Christian discrimination against the Jews and its strong condemnation ofthe practices and ideas that led to the Nazis' "fmal solution."

But many Jewish leaders said they were disappointed with the document's distinction between Christian "anti-Judaism" and Nazi "anti-Semitism" and its defense ofPope Pius XII's policies during World War II. Another source of serious CatholicJewish tensions in the late 1980s was the existence of a Carmelite convent at the edge ofAuschwitz and the planting of memorial crosses by Polish Catholics at the former concentration camp to commemorate the 1.5 million people Turn to page 33 - Hallmark

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

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John Paul II

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His Legacy

History may see pope as spiritual godfather of .cODlDlunisDl's deDlise

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

he began making not-so-quiet pronouncements about communist ideolVATICAN CITY - In the view of ogy and practice.

In 1984, for example, the pope pubmany political commentators, history will best remember Pope John Paul II licly criticized Moscow for not letting as the spiritual godfather of him go to Lithuania for religious celebrations. The same year, a Vatican communism's demise.

Although he refused to claim per- document approved by the pope resonal credit for the collapse of com- ferred to communist regimes as the munism in Eastern Europe and its de- "shame of our time."

The real testing ground of East Eucline elsewhere around the globe, the ropean freedom was Poland. When the pope was keenly aware that his moral prodding - especially in his native pope visited his homeland in 1979, he Poland - helped redraw the ideologi- helped ignite a sense of spiritual purpose that nurtured the political hopes cal map in the late 20th century.

"I think the crucial role was played of the Solidarity labor movement. Afby Christianity itself: its content, its ter martial law was imposed and Solireligious and moral message, its intrin- darity outlawed, the pope returned to sic defense of the hUman person. All I a discouraged nation in 1983, but in did was recall this, repeat it and insist talk after talk raised the country's moon it," the pontiff said in a 1993 inter- rale and political resolve.

Back once again in 1987, he repeatview.

His election in 1978 as the first pope edly praised the original Solidarity idefrom behind the Iron Curtain immedi- als, hammered the government's labor ately sparked interest in Washington record, called for religious freedom and apprehension in Moscow, two and said Marxism had lost credibility.

"Save your strength for the future," poles of a renewed Cold War. For decades the Vatican had followed a he told a crowd of millions in Gdansk, policy of quiet negotiation with com- where the pro-democracy movement munist regimes, in order to win realis- had begun. Two years later, a revived tic concessions on religious rights. Solidarity swept to political power in Many thought the new pope would historic free elections, and European throw out this "Ostpolitik" in favor of communism began to unravel. more aggressive approach.

From 1980 onward, the United But in the end, Pope John Paul States sent high-level officials from the made "Ostpolitik" his own. He kept State Department and the Central Inup the quiet negotiations, but in docu- telligence Agency to brief the pope ments and speeches around the world about Soviet policies in Poland and

POPE JOHN Paul II and Cuban President Fidel Castro came face to face in communist Cuba Jan. 15, 1998. (CNS file photo by Arturo Mari)

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The Anchor - April 9, 2005

PRESIDENT RONALD W. Reagan reaches' out to Pope John Paul II at the pope's arrival in Miami in September 1987 for.a U.S. visit.

Pope John Paul paid tribute to Reagan, noting his important role in the fall of European communism. (CNS photo by Michael Hoyt) elsewhere. The Vatican never denied that these meetings took place, but denied the claim of a U.S.-Vatican "holy alliance" to thwart communism.

In fact, when the first big cracks appeared in the European communist facade, the pope turned East, not West, for help. His overtures to Soviet reformer Mikhail Gorbachev culminated in their historic meeting at the Vatican in 1989 and led to the restoration of Church rights throughout the Soviet bloc.

When the Soviet Union disintegrated, the Vatican took further advantage of the situation by quickly establishing diplomatic relations with the newly independent countries. As the pope remarked, it was clear that Marxist ideology was "completely exhausted."

A key part of the pope's strategy was to encourage communist countries to sign human rights accords, then insist that they live up to them. The Vatican, for example, repeatedly invoked the Helsinki Agreement and the 1989 Vienna follow-up accords when discussing the human rights situation in Eastern Europe.

Another factor working for the pope was that the Vatican's "blessing" was important to countries seeking economic and political favor in the West.

As communist ideology weakened, the regimes sometimes advertised their more liberal approach by offering concessions on religious freedom.

The pope adopted the same strategy during his historic pastoral visit to Cuba in 1998, encouraging President Fidel Castro to make political and religious reforms while urging the international community to stop isolating the Caribbean nation.

While much of the world was

caught off-balance by the rapid disintegration of communism, the Vatican seemed better prepared. According to former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Frank Shakespeare, the cardinals who elected Pope John Paul II showed amazing foresight.

They chose a man from Krakow, Poland - the "geographical center of the continent" - who was a European Slav and a "bridge between the East and the West," Shakespeare said in 1997. The pope spoke the languages of many of the region's people, and that made a huge difference.

When Solidarity took hold in Poland and pro-democracy movements began spreading to other countries, the reports that came in did not get stuck in the Vatican bureaucracy - they went to a Polish Slav pope who had shepherded his own flock for 30 years under communism, Shakespeare said.

"From a management point ofview, the Catholic Church was perfectly prepared for what happened," he said.

The pope realized that the moral victory over communism marked the start of a delicate reorganizational phase for the Church and its pastoral mission. In the space of a decade, he called two special synods for Europe to discuss evangelization plans in the wake of the Soviet collapse and emphasized that the demoralizing effects ofa half-century ofcommunism could not be erased overnight.

He also rejected ideological triumphalism. Rather than dance on communism's grave, he preferred to warn that unchecked capitalism held its own dangers - especially in the countries emerging from Marxist shadows. He made a point to visit 18 former Soviet republics or satellites in the years before his death.

John Paul II -

His Legacy

Pope John Paul II looked closely at role of women in the Church

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - In authoritative theological documents and in heartfelt pastoral letters, Pope John Paul II looked at the role of women in the Church and in the world more closely than any other pope in modem history.

On topics as diverse as the priesthood, motherhood, abortion, work, religious life and peacemaking, women were a recurring and often controversial subject for Pope John Paul.

During his more than 26-year pontificate, as women consolidated their place in some of the highest echelons of temporal power, the pope and the Catholic Church were the objects of continuous criticism about the status of women in the Church.

The issue ofwomen and the priesthood generated discussion and dissent within the Catholic Church and became a major ecumenical stumbling block when some churches in the Anglican Communion began ordainingwomen.

Nevertheless, during Pope John Paul's pontificate, women took over pastoral and administrative duties in priestless parishes, they were appointed chancellors of dioceses around the world, and they began swelling the ranks of "experts" at Vatican synods and symposiums. In 2004, for the first time, the pope appointed two women theologians to the prestigious International Theological Commission and named a Harvard

University law professor,' Mary Ann Glendon, to be president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

While defending women's rights and their "equal dignity" with men, the pope also highlighted the ways women are and should be different from men.

Women and men have complementary natures, he taught, and their "diversity of roles" in the Church and in the family are a reflection of that reality.

The pope's teaching on complementarity formed the basis for a 2004 document by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on male-female collaboration in the Church and society. Describing discrimination against women and malefemale rivalry as results of sin, the document said the differences between the sexes are part ofGod's plan for creation - not social constructs - and that Church and society benefit when the gifts of both are recognized.

While decrying discrimination against women and urging their promotion in all spheres of community and social life, the pope unequivocally reaffirmed the teaching that the Church cannot ordain them to the priesthood.

The basic elements of his teaching on women are found in his 1988 apostolic letter, "Mulieris Dignitatem" CThe Dignity of Women"), his 1994 apostolic letter, "On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone," and his 1995 "Let-

ter to Women."

But his thoughts on women also could be found in significant segments ofhis weekly general audience series on sexuality and on the structure of the Church, his 1988 apostolic exhortation on the laity, his 1995 message for World Peace Day, and his messages to the leaders of the U.N. conferences on population and on women.

Even one of his annual heart-toheart letters to the world's priests dwelt on the topic ofwomen, particularly on the importance of women mothers, sisters and friends - in the lives of priests.

The starting point of "Mulieris Dignitatem" was what Scripture had to say about women, especially Eve and Mary, and Christ's attitude toward women in the New Testament.

In the letter, the pope argued against outdated cultural views that God meant women to be subject to men. Both were created in God's image and likeness with equal dignity, he said.

Women have been subjugated because human beings are sinful, he said, and "the situations in which the woman remains disadvantaged or discriminated against by the fact of being a woman" are the continuing consequences of sin.

The fact that God chose a woman, the Virgin Mary, to play such an important role in the world's salvation leaves little doubt about the Godgiven dignity of women, the pope wrote.

In his 1994 apostolic letter on ordination, Pope John Paul said the Church's ban on women priests is definitive and not open to debate among Catholics.

The all-male priesthood, he wrote, does not represent discrimination against women, but fidelity to Christ's actions and his plan for the Church.

The pope's document reaffirmed the basis for ordaining only men: Christ chose only men to be his Apostles, it has been the constant practice of the Catholic and Orthodox churches, and the magisterium's teaching on the matter has been consistent.

Pope John Paul took his teaching directly to the world's women in a 1995 letter in which he thanked them for all they have done, apologized for the Church's failure to always recognize their contributions and condemned the "long and degrading history" of sexual violence against women.

Evaluating the women's liberation movement as being generally positive, the pope called for changes to make women's equality a reality in the world. He called for equal pay for equal work, protection for working mothers and fairness in career advancement.

But he also mentioned a growing concern in his thinking and teaching: a belief that modem societies were denigrating motherhood and penalizing women who chose to have children.

Turn to page 33 - Women

YOUNG POUSH nuns cheer during Mass with Pope John Paul II in Elblag, Poland. The pope was on a 13-day visit to his homeland.

(CNS photo from Reuters) Pope John Paul II, right, reaches out to an ailing man as Mother Teresa looks on during the pontiff's visit to the Nirmal Hriday Home for the Dying in Calcutta. He toured the home Feb. 3, 1986, personally reaching out to 86 residents. Mother Teresa and her sisters opened the facility in 1952 after the well-publicized case of a young man dying alone in a gutter on the street.

(CNS file photo by Arturo Mari)

The Anchor - AprH 9, 2005

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John Paul II -

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Ecumenism

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Po'pe's missionary initiatives often blocke~tI by ecumenical dreams

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY- Throughout his more than 26-yearpontificate, Pope John Paul II worked hard to advance Christian unity in the East and West, breaking down barriers with a combination of persol1al gestures and official dialogue.

But in the end, the pope found that his oWn missionary initiatives sometimes'got in the way of his ecumenical dreams.

For the Polish-bom ponti:ff, the failure to travel to Moscow and greet Russian OrthodoxPatriarchAlexy II was one of the deepest disappointments of his papacy. Ironically, it was the resurgence ofsmall Catholic communities after the fall of Soviet communism that pushed the trip into the "impossible" category.

The Russian Orthodox hierarchy resented what it called aggressive Catholic evangelization in traditionally Orthodox lands. When the pope created four new dioceses for Russia in 2002, the door to Moscow swung shut for Pope John Paul.

The tensions between ecumenism and evangelization, and between dialogue and doctrine, ran through his pontificate from beginning to end.

The pope called Christian unity a pastoral priority and said the Church was committed "irrevocably to following the path ofthe ecumenical venture."

He gave the ecumenical movement a new impetus with an encyclical in which he asked other churches how the papacy could better serve a reunited Christianity.

Yet other Vatican documents from the same period emphasized the limits of dialogue on ecumenical questions like papal primacy, apostolic succession and even use of terms like "sister churches." Dialogue also stalled over such issues as the Anglican decision in 1994. to ordain women priests.

In his final years, the pope traveled to several predominantly Orthodox countries ofthe East, including Romania, Bulgaria, Armenia and Georgia. A frail figure on these last journeys, he won the hearts of many Orthodox bem~vers through his determination to witness the faith and build ecumenical bridges. In former Soviet countries, he emphasized the "ecumenism ofmartyrdom" and said the heroic faith of all Christians under communism was a resource for the future.

His historic 24-hour pilgrimage to Greece in 200 I overcame Orthodox opposition and public protests, largely through a dramatic papal apology for the wrongs ofthe past - including the

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sack of Constantinople by Western Vatican assurances, local Orthodox communities viewed the Catholic reChristial}s during the Crusades.

But his visit to Ukraine the same year surgence as an attempt to proselytize raised new ecumenical tensions with among their faithful. ' In 2002, when the pope created four the Russian Orthodox Church, despite the pope's call for mutual forgiveness new dioceses in Russia, the Russian and a new chapter of dialogue.

Orthodox Church froze dialogue with The fIrst major ecumenical act of the Vatican and accused the Vatican of Pope John Paul's papacy was his No- expansionism into what the Orthodox vember 1979 visit to Greek Orthodox regard as their "canonical territory." In Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios of months that followed, the Russian govConstantinople in Istanbul, Turkey. At ernment expelled several Catholic that meeting, they inaugurated an in- priests and one bishop, adding a diploternational Catholic-Orthodox theologi- matic dispute to the ecumenical crisis. cal dialogue.

Whenever and wherever doctrinally In a joint declaration in 1987 Pope possible, Pope John Paul encouraged John Paul and Patriarch Dimitrios re- joint Christian prayer and, starting in

ercising the primacy" that could make it a ministry of unity to all Christians.

In 1993 the Church's flfSt revised ecumenical directory in nearly a quarter century greatly expanded the principles and applications of(:atholic ecumenical relations.

Pope John Paul met with heads of the ancient churches ofthe East, affirming Christological agreements with all the Oriental Orthodox churches and signing landmark declarations in 1994 with Patriarch Dinkha IV, head of the Assyrian Church of the East, and in 1996 with Catholicos Karekin I of Etchmiadzin, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In relations with the churches of the Reformation, it was at the pope's invitation that Catholic and Lutheran theologians developed an official joint declaration that they share the same essential beliefinjustification by faith - the core doctrinal dispute behind the Reformation. The declaration was signed by officials of both churches in 1999.

Pope John Paul said he was particularly moved at Masses during his 1989 visit to Scandinavian countries when Lutheran bishops approached him for a blessing at Communion time, symbolizing their desire for the day when Catholics and Lutherans could share the same Eucharist. But in an encyclical on the Eucharist in 2003, the pope said a shared Eucharist among Christian churches was not possible until communion in the bonds of'faith, sacraments and church

POPE JOHN Paull! meets with Orthodox Patriarch Ilia Il.at the govemance~ere"fullyre-established." start of the pontiff's visit to Georgia Nov. 8, 1999: The pope spoke These and other statements disapPointed of ecumenical relations in his first visitto the former Soviet repub- thos~ \Yho had hoped for faster progress lie. (eNS photo from Reuters) ·on:~himep.tal unity. .' '~~~p~e'pope went to England in . pudiated all forms of proselytism of 1994, he invited Orthodox andProtes~ '" 19~2;-'he aI1d Anglican Archbishop Catholics by Orthodox or Orthodox by tant clergy and theologians to write the" Rober:f"RurtCie'-of Canterbury anCatholics. meditations for his Good Friday Way of nou.nced· the~ formation of the Second At Orthodox urging, the Catholic the Cross service in'Rome:~ Colosseum. :. Ailglican.~R6iriai1 Catholic International Church rejected "uniatism" - the unitHe usedthe dawning ofthe third mil-' Commissio(J.. The final report ofthe first ing ofa segment ofan Orthodox Church lennium ofChrlstianitYte;>'stOkethe twin irifematibnalcommission - published with Rome - as a policy for future fires ofspiritual renewal'ahd ecumeniSIl! .in),9~i' anQ, covering Catholic-AngliCatholic-Orthodox union, but at the - convinced, iIi. the woidS'ofhis 1995··' ~Mi··~agieed, statements on Eucharist, same time it affirmed the authenticity encyclical, that "the coinmitment t~.: : ~tilmjstIy~d authority - received a ofEastern Catholic churches formed in ecumenism must be baSed upon the con~'" c60\ formal response from the Vatican the past under such a model. version ofhearts and upon prayer." That .' in '1991; ,but·eIarifications won Vatican Those questions all came to the fore encyclical, titled "Ut Un/im Sint" (''That . approval ttU-ee years later. after the collapse ofSoviet communism All May Be One"), became a topic' of The pOpe afftrmed the work of the in 1991, as Eastern Catholic communi- ecumenical dialogues,around the world .. ,world Council of Churches with his ties regained legal status throughout the in the years that followed. . 1984 ~p'to its headquarters in Geneva. former Soviet empire.

In it the pope acknowledged that Almost eveiyone of his 104 trips to In a 1992 document on post-com- while Catholics view the bishop ofRome other nations featured meetings with munist Russia, the Vatican called for as ''visible sign and guarantor ofunity," leaders of other Christian churches. ecumenism in Catholic mission activ- the notion of that papal role for the uniThe pope's emphasis on ecumenism ity there, asking Catholic authorities to versal Church "constitutes a difficulty was far from accidental. In his own avoid competition with the Orthodox for most other Christians." He asked words, "The bishop ofRome must enand to assist in the development of 01'- theologians and leaders of other sure the communion ofall the churches. thodox pastoral initiatives. But despite churches to help him "find a way ofex- ... He is the fIrst servant of unity."

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Pope made major overtures to non-Christian religions

By JERRY FILTEAU CATllOUC NEWS SERVICE

WASIllNGTON - More than any pontiffin modem history, Pope John Paul II made important overtures to nonChristian religions, using documents, prayer meetings and personal visits to open the doors ofdialogue.

He helped the Church overcome periodic tensions with Jews by visiting a synagogue, praying atNazi death camps and approving a landmark document on the Holocaust that apologized for Christians' failure to oppose the persecution ofJews.

Pope John Paul advanced the Church's sometimes-difficult relations with Islam by visiting a mosque, speaking to Muslim groups on his foreign trips and insisting on full religious freedom in countries under Islamic law.

He was convinced that prayer could bring believers together, an idea that inspired the 1986 World Day ofPrayer for Peace in Assisi, Italy.

That unprecedented gathering at the pope's invitation drew leaders of Jews, Buddhists, Shintoists, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Hindus, Unitarians, traditional African and Native American religions and many others. Together, under the roof of the Basilica of St. Francis, they all prayed, side by side, with Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant leaders for world peace.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States by extremists

acting in the name of Islam, the pope convened anotherAssisi meeting in early 2002 and told more than 200 spiritual leaders: "Terrorism never again." The participants issued ajoint condemnation ofall violence in the name ofreligion.

In scores of other encounters and speeches over more than two decades, Pope John Paul sought to draw representatives of all religions into deeper mutual understanding, respect and dialogue about shared values and beliefs.

At the same time, he insisted that Catholics engaged in dialogue be true to their core beliefs and the spread of the Gospel. In 2000, he approved a controversial Vatican document emphasizing the universal and absolute value ofChristianity and the "gravely deficient situation" of those outside the Church.

The pope's dialogue efforts focused especially on Judaism and Islam - the other monotheistic faiths that, like Christianity, claim Abraham as their father in faith and the God of Abraham as their God. Eugene Fisher, associate director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, said: "Pope John Paul met with more Jews and Jewish communities in more places around the world than all the previous popes since Peter."

The most striking of these encounters was the pope's one-mile trip across the Tiber River to the Synagogue of Rome to pray with the city's Jewish com-

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POPE JOHN Paull! meets with Japanese Buddhists at his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. The monks were in Rome for a Buddhist-Christian symposium. (CNS photo from Reuters)

munity in 1986. It was the first time a pope had entered the Rome synagogue, and symbolically it marked a watershed in Catholic-Jewish relations.

In his jubilee pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the pope met with Holocaust survivors at a memorial in Jerusalem and prayed at the Westem Wall, striking a chord with Jews around the world.

But along with progress, there was plenty of controversy in Catholic-Jewish relations under Pope John Paul.

Even the Vatican's Holocaust document, issued with a papal introduction in early 1998 after more than I0 years of preparation, drew mixed reaction. It won universal approval for its "mea culpa" about past Christian discrimination against the Jews and its strong condemnation ofthe practices and ideas that led to the Nazis' "final solution."

But many Jewish leaders said they were disappointed with the document's distinction between Christian "anti-Judaism" and Nazi "anti-Semitism" and its defense of Pope Pius XII's policies during World War II. In 2003, the pope ordered the early opening of some archival material related to Pope Pius XII and the war, so scholars could better evaluate the period.

The pope spoke movingly ofJewish Holocaust victims during his first trip back to Poland in 1979, when he visited the Auschwitz death camp. Visiting Germany in 1980, he summarizedthe proper Catholic approach to Judaism with the words: "Who meets Jesus Christ meets Judaism."

When Carmelite nuns set up a convent outside the gates of Auschwitz in the 1980s, provoking Jewish protests around the world, the pope intervened personally to ask the nuns to move, and he donated money to help them do it.

At the pope's urging, the Vatican esPOPE JOHN Paul II and Archbishop Alan de Lastic of Delhi tablished diplomatic relations with Israel sprinkle flower petals at Raj Gaht, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi in 1994; this offered a diplomatic chanin New Delhi. The pope, then 79, visibly struggled with his walk nel on controversies that often included around the. tomb. (CNS photo from Reuters) interreligious elements.

The Church's relations with Islam under Pope John Paul were conditioned by political realities in many countries across the globe. In recent years, the pope made special efforts to assure Muslims that the Church did not view global terrorism and the efforts to curb it as a "religious war" between Islam and Christianity.

One of Pope John Paul's first trips abroad was to Turkey, an overwhelmingly Muslim country, in 1979. In a talk to the tiny Catholic minority there he urged respect for the religious and moral values ofIslam.

In August 1985, when he visited Morocco at the invitation ofKing Hassan II, he became the first pope to visit an officially Islamic country at the invitation of its religious leader. There, at a historic meeting with thousands ofMuslim youths in Casablanca Stadium, he emphasized that "we believe in the same God, the one God, the living God." In May 200 I, the pope became the first pontiffin history to enter a Muslim place of worship when he visited the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, Syria.

He paused to pray at a memorial to St. John the Baptist inside the mosque in an event that was televised around much ofthe Muslim world.

Official Catholic-Muslim dialogue expanded during his papacy, including ties between the Vatican and the Islamic clerics of Cairo's al-Azhar University, whom the pope met during atrip to Egypt in 2000. But vast gulfs remained, chief among them the persecution of Christians in parts of Africa and Asia under Islamic religious law.

The pope repeatedly preachedrespect for the rights ofMuslims to practice their faith, but often lamented the fact that in many countries - chief among them, Saudi Arabia- Christians had no similar rights, and even the possession of a Bible was considered a crime.

Visiting Muslim-dominated places Turn to page 33 - Overtures

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Slowed by age, pope refused to give up traveling the world

By JOHN THAVIS

convinced ... that I am traveling too much, but sometimes it is necessary to do something ofwhat is too much."

On other occasions, he said simply, "I must visit my people."

His top aides said the pontiffaimed to strengthen the links between the Church in Rome and particular Church communities around the

CATHOLIf:: NEWS SERVICE

kept returning to Africa in order to bring the journalistic spotlight to its sufferings. A crowd in Burkina Faso held up a banner in 1990 that welcomed him as "a great friend."

In a 1980 trip to Latin America, he underscored the Church's commitment to the poor by walking into a shack in it Rio de Janeiro slum and

VATICAN CITY - Although slowed by age and infirmity before he died, Pope John Paul II refused to give up one of his favorite pastoral duties: traveling the globe.

Visiting 129 countries on 104 trips outside Italy, he redefined the nature ofthe papacy and its once~stable ministry. Earlier popes were, carried on chairs at the Vatican; this one jetted around the world, taking the univer• rmtlIIt~ld~ihillt'i_ ~ Iflitljlll! rt'IIiMIfl ~@4 tilpll sal Church to such out-of-the-way OYtIl!fllltlWcaMtll\lll mml1tftl1ll-' ifllllfi places as Papua New Guinea, Madagascar and Alaska.

Averaging four major trips a year, the pope logged more than 700,000 miles and spent about six percent of his papacy outside the Vatican and Italy.

Every year his aides told him to slow down - and every year the pontiff penciled in more trips. In 2002, despite summer heat and' declining, health, the pope crisscrossed North \1 .~~ and Central America for II days to , ,\<:0 0 0 , \0' meetwith,yQutbs in Toronto l:U1d cat1~ , 0' ~.

• t\ '.: 0 0' t· ':' . . ~l \. onii~'; saints' ,Guatemala " .. , , 9 Mexico.·' , , o \i Pe~haps the most personally satis~ .. fyingtrip wall his HolyYear 2000 pilgrimage.to bibli~,al·lands, which began in Egypt, with a visit to Mount Sinaiillid.co~tintied:\Vith.stopsin Jordan,' Is~a(:;landjhe F'aiestillian territories.: The,:pope wlllked in the f9.oV stepsofChrist.andtheApostl~s.fu.1d. made ii histonc visit in Jerusalem to the Western Wall; Judaism's holiest place. . A year later, extending his biblical pilgrimage, he made unprecedented papal stops in Greece and Syria, meeting with Orthodox in Athens and viSe' iting a mosque in Damascus, Syria.

Even when his failing health made it difficult for him to walk and speak, the pope plowed ahead with trips to out-of-the-way places like Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, where he was pushed on a wheeled platform and lowered globe. From the mountains ofPeru to chatting with the residents. Moments from airplanes on a modified cargo the plains ofIndia, he spoke the local earlier, in a spontaneous gesture, he lift. In 2004, when he no longer could languages, gave pep talks to local had taken offhis gold papal ring and walk, he visited Switzerland and pastoral workers and canonized local offered it to the poverty-stricken loLourdes, France. saints. cal parish.

From the beginning, Pope John His speeches, sermons and liturHe visited with victims of Paul made it clear he enjoyed being gies often were televised in the host Hansen's disease in Guinea-Bissau out of the Vatican and mingling with countries, giving him a unique oppor- and blessed young AIDS sufferers the faithful. He treated reporters to tunity to evangelize and stand up pub- in Uganda and the United States. unprecedented flying news confer- licly for minority Catholics.

These stops provided rare glimpses ences, strolling through the press secSome of his warmest receptions of papal emotion, and his hugs for tion of his plane and fielding dozens came in Africa, a continent where his the sick were often front-page picofquestions. ' 14 pastoral visits helped spur a pe- tures in newspapers around the , Asked about his globe-trotting pa- riod of tremendous growth for the world. . pacy in 1983, he replied: "Yes; I am Church. He once told reporters he The pope ' s seven trips to' the

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United States featured festive celebrations and emotional highlights, like the time he embraced armless guitarist Tony Melendez - who strummed with his feet - in Los Angeles, in 1987, or when he met the 375,000strong pilgrimage of young people who visited Denver in 1993 for World.

Youth Day. From a pastoral point of view, some of his toughest trips were in Europe, continent the pope declared in need ofre-evangelization. In places like the Netherlands in 1985, he got an earful from Catholics unh.appy with Church positions on issues such as~irth control and priestly celibacy.

International .politics sometimes colored Pope John Paul's travels. In Nicaragua in 1983, the pope tried to ·'1.··.·,.. ·· shout down- Sandinista activists, who -, -. " began ch~nting politicaLSlogans dtir~ "", ing a Mass. In H:aitj on the sa~e trip, . he delivered·a stem rebuke todicta-· ", tor Jean~Clatide· "Baby.,Doc"· './-:' -;.-, ,Duvalier; wiioe~eritually w~~:iorc~d' ,.'.: . out office:' ... ;' '. ,"', . .

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Yet even after the fall ofEuropean communism, invisible walls kept .Pope John Paul from visiting his flock in several places. At the top ofthe list. was Russia, where Orthodox leaders .kept saying the time was not ripe, and China, where the government refused to recognize the pope's authoritative role.

Where he did journey, there were often long-term benefits, measured in . terms of Church growth and vitality.

And there were short-term rewards, like the mental postcards he created: sitting in a tent with a Buddhist monk in Thailand, greeting sword-wielding former headhunters in India or celebrating Mass in a snowstorm in warravaged Sarajevo, BosniaHerzegovina.

Whether in Muslim Morocco, Buddhist Japan or Catholic Spain, the pope pusheda:simple message -through his words and presence: that , the Gospel is not out of place in any country.

John Paul II -

Trips

Pope John Paul II was most widely traveled pontiffby far

By CATHOLIC

NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - His 104 trips outside Italy made Pope John Paul II by far the most widely traveled pope in history.

The previous record holder, Pope Paul VI, earned the nickname the "pilgrim pope" - but he made only nine foreign trips in a 15-year papacy.

Here is a complete list of Pope John Paul's trips outside Italy: Dominican Republic and Mexico, Jan.25-Feb. I, 1979, with a stopover in the Bahamas.

- Poland, June 2-10,1979.

- Ireland and United States, Sept.

29-0ct. 7, 1979.

- Turkey, Nov. 28-30, 1979.

- Zaire (now Congo), (Republic of) Congo, Kenya, Ghana, Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and Ivory Coast, May 2-12, 1980.

- France, May 30-June 2, 1980.

- Brazil, June 30-July 12, 1980.

- West Germany, Nov. 15-19, 1980.

- Philippines, Guam and Japan, Feb. 16-27, 1981, with stopovers in Pakistan and United States.

- Nigeria, Benin, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Feb. 12-19, 1982.

- Portugal, May 12-15, 1982.

- Great Britain, May 28-June 2, 1982.

- Argentina, June 11-12, 1982, with a stopover in Brazil.

- Switzerland, June 15, 1982.

- San Marino, Aug. 29, 1982.

- Spain, Oct. 3 I-Nov. 9, 1982.

-Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, EI Salvador, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and Haiti, March 2-10, 1983, with a stopover in Portugal.

- Poland, June 16-23, 1983.

- France, Aug. 14-15, 1983.

-Austria, Sept. 10-13, 1983.

- South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Thailand, May 2-12, 1984, with a stopover in United States.

-Switzerland, June 12-17, 1984.

- Canada, Sept. 9-20, 1984.

POPE JOHN Paul II rides in his popemobile through the streets of Nazareth after celebrating Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation, seen in back. (CNS photo from Reuters)

POPE JOHN PAUL II kneels before a figure of the Christ child in Bethlehem's Grotto of the Nativity. The pope prayed in the grotto for 20 minutes, emphasizing his role as pilgrim in the Holy Land.

(CNS photo by Arturo Mari) - Spain, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, Oct. 10-12, 1984.

- Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Jan. 26-Feb. 6, 1985.

- Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg, May 11-21, 1985.

- Togo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Zaire, Kenya and Morocco, Aug. 8-19, 1985.

- Liechtenstein, Sept. 8, 1985.

- India, Feb. 1-10, 1986.

- Colombia, July 1-7, 1986, with a stopover in St. Lucia.

- France, Oct. 4-7,1986.

- Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Fiji, Singapore and Seychelles, Nov. 19-Dec. I, 1986.

- Uruguay, Chile and Argentina, March 31-ApriI13, 1987.

- West Germany, April 30-May 4, 1987.

- Poland, June 8-14,1987.

- United States and Canada, Sept.

10-20, 1987.

- Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay, May 7-18, 1988. . -Austria, June 23-27, 1988.

- Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique, Sept.

10-19, 1988, with a detour through South Africa.

- France, Oct. 8-11, 1988.

- Madagascar, Reunion, Zambia and Malawi, April 28-May 6, 1989.

- Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark and Sweden, June 1-10, 1989.

- Spain, Aug. 19-21, 1989.

- South Korea, Indonesia, East Timor and Mauritius, Oct. 6-16, 1989.

- Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Burkina Faso, Jan. 25-Feb. 1,1990.

- Czechoslovakia, April 21-22, 1990.

- Mexico and Curacao, May 613,1990.

- Malta, May 25-27, 1990.

- Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ivory Coast, Sept. 1-10, 1990.

- Portugal, May 10-13, 1991.

- Poland, June 1-9, 1991.

- Poland and Hungary, Aug. 1320, 1991.

- Brazil, Oct. 12-20, 1991.

- Senegal, Gambia and Guinea, Feb. 19-26, 1992.

- Angola and Sao Tome and Principe, June 4-10, 1992.

- Dominican Republic, Oct. 9-14, 1992.

- Benin, Uganda and Sudan, Feb. 3-10,1993.

- Albania, April 25, 1993.

-Spain, June 12-17, 1993.

- Jamaica, Mexico and United Turn to page 35 - Trips

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Pope John Paul II

Looking out at the view of Mont Blanc from northern Italy.

Children greet Pope John Paul II at the shrine at Fatima, Portugal.

A koala clings to Pope John Paul II in Brisbane, Australia.

Pope John Paul II poses with a group of Polish children wearing Santa hats at a weekly general audience at the Vatican.

Pope John Paul II kisses a baby at the Vatican.

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The Anchor - April 9, 2005

Pope John Paul II is framed by branches as he walks near an olive tree on the grounds of the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai.

. Pope John Paul II moves with a musical rhythm as he presides over a World Youth Day ceremony at the Tor Vergata campus of the University of Rome.

His Life & Times

Pope John Paul II receives a basketball from Harlem Globetrotters player and coach Curley "Boo" Johnson. '

Pope John Paul II rides a chairlift to the summit of an 8,910-foot mountain in Italy's Val d'Aosta region.

Pope John Paul II (center, in red boots) prays with a group of skiers before heading down a slope in this 1984 file photo. The pontiff, who enjoyed skiing in his native Poland before his election, was able to slip away to ski only a few times as he led the worldwide Church.

Pope John Paul II left his seat to embrace and kiss Tony Melendez after the armless musician performed at a 1987 meeting with young people in Los Angeles. It was one of the more moving moments of the pope's seven U.S. visits.

Pope John Paul II greets Bono, lead singer of the Irish rock group U2.

Pope John Paul II wipes his eyes during the departure ceremony ending a 13-day trip to Poland.

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John Paul II -

U.S. Trips

In U.S. visits, pope urged Catholics to use their freedom responsibly

By CAROL ZIMMERMANN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ton and was challenged by one of them to expand women's role in the Church.

"I urge you, Your Holiness, to be open to and to respond to the voices coming from the women ofthis country who are desirous of serving in and through the Church as fully participating members," said Mercy Sister Theresa Kane, then-head ofthe Leadership Conference of Women ReligIous.

Although the pope had stopovers in Alaska in 1981 and 1984, his next major visit to the United States was in 1987, when he visited Miami; Columbia, S.c.; New Orleans; San Antonio; Phoenix; Los Angeles; Monterey and Carmel, Calif.; San Francisco; and Detroit.

In South Carolina, he praised the American tradition of freedom, but called on Americans not to lose sight of freedom's "true meaning."

"America: You cannot insist on the right to choose without also insisting on the duty to choose well, the duty to choose in truth," he said at an ecumenical service.

He not only spoke to huge crowds, but addressed smaller groups of rei igious leaders, black Catholics, Native Americans, Catholic educators and Catholic health care workers. He also met with President Ronald Reagan.

In Los Angeles, he met privately with most of the U.S. bishops and noted that many Catholics "are selective in their adherence to" Church moral teachings. He said it was wrong

WASHINGTON.- In Pope John Paul II's seven visits to the United States, he continually urged Catholics to use their freedom responsibly and to preserve the sacredness and value of human life.

In football stadiums in New York and California, a Hispanic barrio in Texas, a historic farm in Iowa and dozens of cathedrals, the pope challenged Americans to rediscover their country's religious roots, which sought to guarantee individual freedom and human dignity.

He frequently quoted long-standing icons ofAmerican culture, including the Declaration ofIndependence, the Constitution, words of Thomas Jefferson, the Pledge of Allegiance, and even the song "America the Beautiful."

In 1979, he visited the Statue of Liberty and in 1995, he reminded his listeners at Giants Stadium in New Jersey not to forget the words emblazoned on the base of the statue, symbolizing the nation's initial willingness to care for the poor and immigrant.

"Is present day America becoming less sensitive, less caring toward the poor, the weak, the stranger, the needy?" he asked.

And with a challenging response to his own question, he replied, "It must not."

In 1987, the pope told Americans at a departure ceremony at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport: "The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless ones."

The pope first came to the United States in 1979, visiting Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington and Des Moines, Iowa.

He met with Church and civic leaders, including President Jimmy Carter at the White House, but he also took the time to personally greet many of the thousands who flocked to the sidelines, hoping for a handshake or even just a glimpse of him. In Chicago he found time to make a phone call to a retired bishop dying of Lou Gehrig's disease.

THREE YOUNG women greet But the pope's first U.S. visit also was not without tension. During the Pope John Paull! at World Youth last day of his trip he met with about Day in Denver in 1993. (CNS file 7,000 women religious in Washing- photo by Joe Rimkus Jr.)

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POPE JOHN Paul II kisses Angelina Tsukas-Spiera, age one, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix in 1987. (CNS photo) to think that dissent poses no obstacle to Catholic participation in the sacraments.

In San Francisco, the pope ignored the conventional wisdom of the day to reach out and touch AIDS patients, shaking their hands and embracing a four-year-old boy who had contracted the deadly disease through a blood transfusion shortly after birth.

In Los Angeles, after the pope heard armless musician Tony Melendez play the guitar with his toes, he jumped off the stage, strode over to him and kissed him on his cheek.

Six years later, Melendez performed at World Youth Day in Denver, where the pope spoke to hundreds of thousands of young people at the edge of the Rocky Mountains.

Many ofthe youth not only walked 15 miles in the summer's heat to the site of the final Mass of the pope's 1993 visit, but also camped out overnight for the service, where they were encouraged by the pope to bring Christ to the world.

"At this stage of history, the liberating message of the Gospel of life has been put into your hands," he told the youth.

During his three-day stay in Denver, the pope also met with President Bill Clinton.

In 1995, in a visit just to the East Coast, the pope stopped in New York City; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Baltimore and Newark, N.J. He celebrated Mass in New York's Central Park and various sports stadiums, including a racetrack in Queens.

In a formal talk to the U.N. General Assembly and in off-the-cuff remarks to schoolchildren, the pope urged people to work and pray for peace.

He also took an unexpected detour down Fifth Avenue to greet the throngs of people eager to see the pontiff up close.

In a prayer service in Newark the pope thanked God for the "extraordinary human epic that is the United States." And before leaving, he again urged Catholics to "love life, cherish life, defend life, from conception to natural death."

The pope returned to the United States in 1999 for a pastoral visit to St. Louis.

In his 31-hour stay in the country's heartland, the pope met Mark McGwire, home run champion for the St. Louis Cardinals, prior to leading a prayer service for youth in the city's hockey arena. The next day he celebrated Mass at an enclosed football stadium for 120,000 people in what has been described as the largest indoor Mass in the country.

He challenged young people not to delay living out their faith.

"You are ready for what Christ wants of you now. He wants you all of you - to be light to the world," he told the exuberant crowd.

He also strongly urged American Catholics to be "unconditionally Pro-Life" in taking stands against abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide, capital punishment and racIsm. More than once he cited the "Spirit ofSt. Louis" - the name of the plane in which Charles Lindbergh made history with the first solo trans-Atlantic flight - in appeals for a new spirit of service, compassion and generosity.

In usual fashion, he also urged St. Louis Catholics to take up a renewed spirit of their "one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all."

John Paul II -

Latin America

Latin America: debate, solid stands marked pope's work

By AGOSTINO BONO CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

c

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relorms In communist-ruled Cuba; areas of countries in a part of the world where per- promoting major celebrations in 1992 for the sonal relationships are important, he added.

WASHINGTON - Pope John Paul II put his 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in ''The pope attracted incredible crowds. People personal stamp on Latin America and its controver- Latin America while admitting that the missionary could see the pope," he said. sial issues of social justice, liberation theology and Church's ties to the Spanish conquest produced The long papacy also allowed Pope John Paul to Church political involvement. "lights and shadows" for the region's indigenous in- remake the Latin American hierarchy.

He also supported bishops under the gun ofmili- habitants; Msgr. Precht said the pope chose bishops who tary and Marxist governments.

- stressing the need for tighter unity of the reflected his criticisms offree-market capitalism, his In January 1979, fewer than 100 days after being Church in the Americas by organizing a Synod of views on issues within the Church, and his firm supelected, the pope traveled to Mexico to attend a Bishops for America in 1997 and issuing a major port of traditional family and sexual values. major meeting of Latin American bishops, and, in papal document in 1999 based on the synod. The Smith said the pope looked for bishops who were initial news stories, his principal addresses were ' , document called for new evangeliiati~riprogtari1s"',iSpiritually oriented and in tune with the Church's _. posidon on celibacy, abortion and moral issues. widely misunderstood as calls for the socially ac- and greater solidarity with the poor;' '" But the pope still wanted bishops committed to tive Latin American clergy to stay out ofpolitics.

In reality, the first pope from a communist-ruled social justice and teaching the social doctrine ofthe country was warning Church leaders during the Cold Church, Smith said.

War to avoid entanglements in partisan politics or ' The pope tried to reach a balance between social in partisan political ideologies. He did not tell them concerns and traditional moral issues, said Smith. to sidestep political issues, nor did he avoid them.

In the process, Pope John Paul "tried to rein in Neither did the pope flinch from internal Church some strains ofliberation theology" that used Marxcontroversies. He led a concerted counterattack ist concepts, such as class struggle as the motor of against the use ofMarxist concepts by Churcn theohistory, said Smith. Some strains even tried to apply the theory ofclass struggle to the inner workings of logians, social thin15:ers and pastoral planners. This included strong.critici~m,s of as~cts of liberation' the Church, Smith said. theology coupled \\lith disciplining priests and cut.lapal measures included requiring Peruvian Fating into the authority ofthe Confederation ofLatin tliei"Gustavo Gutierrez, who coined the term "libAmerican Religious to narne their own leaders. eration theology," to revise some ofhis writings and His influence also reached into the region's posilencing Franciscan Father Leonardo Boff, a Braliticallife, shaping Church priorities in dealing with zilian theologian who eventually left the priesthood. secular leaders, especially the military governments During a 1983 trip to Nicaragua, the pope wagged in place when the pope took office in 1978. both his index fingers in anger at Father Ernesto Pope John Paul promoted democracy, human Cardenal, who tried to kiss the papal ring, because rights and the rule of law in Latin America, said the priest had joined the Marxist-influenced Dominican Father Edward Cleary, political science Sandinista government against papal wishes. The pope later suspended Father Cardenal from the acprofessor and director of the Latin American Studies Program at Providence College in Rhode Island. ' tive ministry and disciplined several other priests' ' who held prominent government posts.

He reinforced the social justice orientation of the Latin American Church and encouraged the region's In a 1991 show of displeasure, the, pope cut indigenous populations towork for their own iden. . . ' into the autonomy of the Confederation of Latin POPE. JOHN Pau~.11 arnve.s In hiS American Re.Jigious by having the Vatican choose tity and rights, Father Cleary said.

Msgr. Cristian Precht, who headed the Chilean popemoblle at the BaSIlica of Our Lady of, 'its officers instead of allowing them to be chosen Church's main human rights agency under the mili- Guadalupe in Mexico City. (CN$ photo from by the membership. The decision was made after tary dictatorship of the 1970-80s, praised the pope Reuters) , . 's(:veral years ofcontroversy over the content of a for supporting bishops' conferences in countries ' confederation evangelization program considered where human rights were being violated.

- going to Mexico in 2002 to canonize Juan too Marxist by Latin American and Vatican offiThe pope also took a direct hand in many spe- Diego - the 16th century Indian who saw the daIs. cific situations in Latin America, a part ofthe world ,Marian vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe - as a On the pastoral level, however, the pope allowed where the Church has wielded strong social influ- sign ofthe Church's inculturation in LatinAmerica.;'a certain amount of flexibility and innovation.

Msgr. Precht, associate general secretary of the While standing firm on an all-male celibate clergy, ence since the days of Spanish colonialism and where the overwhelming majority ofthe people pro- Latin American bishops' council from 1995 to 1999, Pope John Paul allowed an increase in the number fess Catholicism. noted that the pope's trips to Latin America "left a of women serving as parish administrators in Latin Papal actions included: deep mark on people whose roots are Christian and America, Smith said.

- successfully mediating a territorial dispute that Catholic."

Before Pope John Paul was elected in 1978, about The pope's globe-trotting included 18 trips to , one in eight parishes in Chile was run by a nun or had moved Argentina and Chile to the brink of war in the late 1970s; Latin America. The visits gave him firsthand knowl- laywoman because ofthe shortage ofpriests, he said.

- steering liberation theology away from the edge ofthe region having the world's largest Catho- The situation was similar in many other Latin Ameriinfluence of Marxist social analysis while encour- lic population. About 42 percent of the world's can countries, he added.

This ratio has quietly increased throughout Latin aging its thrust toward social reforms in a poverty- Catholics live in Latin America.

The trips also "rekindled the loyalty to the Church America, said Smith. These women are baptizing, ridden region of the world; - disciplining several priests who refused to of the people," said Brian Smith, religion professor burying the dead and conducting prayer services with leave their high government posts in Nicaragua's at Ripon College in Ripon, Wis., and a former mis- the distribution ofpreviously consecrated hosts, said Marxist-influenced Sandinista government; sionary in Chile.

Smith. They are doing basically what a permanent - traveling to Chile and Argentina to criticize "He not only preached socialjustice, but fostered deacon does, he added.

"The pope didn't stop this. He's provided the human rights abuses under their military govern- the strong pastoral renewal of the Church," Smith ments; said. opportunity for pastoral practice to develop without - advocating religious freedom and democratic The pope held youth rallies and went to remote changing the discipline," Smith said.

The Anchor路 April 9, 2005

27

InCanada,popesuessed need of spreading Gospel , OTTAWA (CNS) - In trips, speeches, liturgies and meetings with Canadians over his more than 26-year pontificate, Pope John Paul II stressed the importance of spreading the Gospel in Canada's rapidly changing culture.

Presiding over World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002, the pope reached out to young people and asked them to renew the world with the force of love.

His energy and effort to communicate will long be remembered by the thousands of young Canadians who joined in the massive youth pilgrimage.

On the same visit, he encouraged all Canadians to build on the country's heritage: the "spiritual and transcendent vision of life based on Christian revelation," which he said has helped Canada develop as a free, democratic and caring society.

Throughout his pontificate, the pope has remembered Native Americans in Canada, offering his support on land rights and acknowledging past mistakes by missionanes. .

He canonized the first Canadianborn saint, Marie Marguerite d'Youville, and appointed the vast majority of the country's active bishops.

He was the first pope to set foot in Canada, eventually making three trips to the country.

Closing World Youth Day events in 2002, the pope was treated as a special guest by Canadians. His physical frailty prompted fears that he might have to cut short his participation, but when he arrived he made a point of walking down the airplane steps instead ofriding a lift- a gesture that amazed his hosts.

WITH THE help of young people, Pope John Paul II moves along on a rolling platform as he arrives to celebrate the final Mass at the 2002 World Youth Day in Toronto. (CNS file photo)

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He sojourned for three days at a lakeside retreat house on Strawberry Island in a remote area ofOntario, riding a launch around the lake and hosting a luncheon with World Youth Day representatives.

Presiding over three major events at a Toronto fairgrounds, the pope offered a simple but forceful message, telling young people that real happiness is found in the Gospel, not in worldly success or the "fleeting pleasures of the senses."

He said Christ's advice to be pure of heart, to love the poor and to build peace has special resonance in a world tom by violence and terrorism.

For many of the Canadian youths, the ceremonies offered the first glimpse ofthe pope. Some cried, some snapped pictures, and some climbed on friends' 'shoulders for a better view.

The pope chose the closing Mass for World Youth Day to make an important statement about priestly sex abuse cases that had caused scandal in 'some U.S. and Canadian dioceses. He said the harm done by some priests and religious to the young "fills us all with a deep sense ofsadness and shame." But he asked the youths to ''think ofthe vast majority of dedicated and generous priests and religious whose only wish is to serve and do good."

Many older Canadians will best remember the pope for his 1984 pastoral visit to Canada. He crisscrossed the country and met with virtually every sector of the population, stressing themes of faith, ecumenism, prayer, social justice, and cultural and ethnic pluralism.

His comment at a Mass in Manitoba that "the split between the Gospel and culture is without a doubt the drama of our time" gave perspective to many of his more specific messages.

In the French-speaking province of Quebec, where Catholics are a large majority and where the evangelization ofCanada began, he warned that a cul~e "nurtured by Christianity" was being "shattered'.' by Quebec's rapid entry into the technological age. . , Meeting with other Christian leaders ofCanada, the pope urged ecumenical cooperation in raising ethical and moral questions about economics, technology, science and culture. He said the modem age has "ushered in a technological mentality which challenges Gospel values."

In Newfo~dland, the pope blessed the local fishing fleet and sympathized with the high unemployment along the coastal area. He said their economic insecurity reflected changes in the fish-

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

POPE JOHN Paul II lifts the chalice during Mass at the final event of World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002. More than 800,000 people attended the closing Mass. (CNS photo from Reuters) ing industry and in economic pattems On several occasions the pope adworldwide. dressed concerns about the proper role In the course of his 12-day visit, the of Catholic laity in Canada, saying in pope met more often with young 1999 that some lay activities were bepeople, handicapped or sick people and coming too "clergy-like." aboriginal minorities than he had on any He said the "first domain of the lay of his previous 22 trips outside Italy. vocation is the life of society, culture In his meetings with Native Ameri- and enterprise," and that Canadian cans, the pope acknowledged that the Catholics should rediscover the sense Church had not always respected indig- of complementary communion modenous cultures and may have commit- eled on the ancient image ofpriests as ted "blunders" in evangelization, but shepherds and laity as their flock. said that the American Indians and Inuit In 1993, a few weeks after bishops were "full-fledged members of the from Western and Northern Canada Church, although not of society." asked the Vatican to consider allowing Toward the end of his 1984 trip, married priests in sparsely populated heavy fog forced the pope to cancel his and indigenous areas, the pope said that planned visit to native peoples in Fort ordaining married men is "not the path Simpson, Northwest Territories, 380 to follow" in coping with the priest miles south of the Arctic Circle. He fi- shortage. nally made it to the remote town in 1987 The pope recognized that Church at the end ofa 1O-day trip to the United leaders in Canada often were preachStates. ing unpopular messages. He told the At a Mass there in which some ref- bishops in 1999 that the Church needs erences to God were changed to "Great to reach out with careful language to Spirit," the pope told the Indians and those who "see things differently and Inuit, or Eskimos, that they had a right do not share our assumptions." He said to adequate land and resources. the Church, while insisting on the radiDuring the four "ad limina" visits cal demands of the "Gospel of life," made by Canadian bishops to the Vati- , should not presume ill will or bad faith can in 1983, 1988, 1993 and 1999, the among those who question its teachpope gave a detailed assessment ofpas- . ings. toral priorities for the' Church in Th~ pope's popularity in Canada was Canada. very high. In 2000, a survey showed that He encouraged the bishops to be au- two-thirds ofCanadians polled said they thentic teachers and "heralds ofthe approved of the pope's performance as faith" in Canadian society, particularly aspiritualleader, with Catholics giving in denouncing social and moral ills like him an 84 percent approval rating. abortion and euthanasia.

The pope offered perhaps his broadHe praised Canada's Catholic school est assessment of Canadian society in system but cautioned that the Catholic a talk to the country's ambassador in identity of these schools must be pre- 1993. He said Canada's sensitivity to served. At the same time, he defended human values and its efforts to make the Church's right to govern its own sure everyone is included in its schools, which had been called into multicultural society were models for question in some parts of Canada. the rest of the world.

His Holiness , Pope John PaulII of Blessed M~mory May He Rest In"Peace

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Westport

His Holiness Pope John Paul II Of Blessed Memory St. Peter the Apostle Parish', Provincetown His Holiness Pope John Paul II May God Grant Him Eternal Rest Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Fall River His Holiness Pope John Paul II of Blessed Memory Holy Ghost Parish, Attleboro

His Holiness Pope John Paul II Eternal Rest ,Grant Unto Him o Lord!

St. Mary - Our Lady of the Isle Parish, Nantucket The World Has Lost' It's 路Greatest Leader In Search for Eternal Brotherhood His Holiness Pope'John Paul II

St. Pius X Parish, South Yarmouth

His Holiness Pope John Paul II May the Almighty Grant Him the Peace He Sought So Diligently for All the Peoples of the World

St. Patrick Parish, Falmouth His Holiness Pope John Paul II May He Enjoy Life Everlasting

Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Fall River The Anchor路 April 9, 2005

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Our Thoughts and Prayers Are with You In Gratitude For Being Our Shepherd The Parish Community of .

Saint Stanislaus, Fall River

Together with the Entire World We Mourn ,The Death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II Immaculate Conception Parish, New Bedford

His Holiness Pope John Paul II Well Done Good and Faithful Servant St. John Neumann Parish Family, East Freetown

His Holiness Pope John Paul II May God Grant Him Eternal Rest St. John the Baptist Parish, Westport

Although saddened by the news, the Parish community of Saint Ann in Raynham thanks God for the unique gift that Pope John Paul II has been to the Church and to the world. We pray that this great shepherd now enjoys the gift of everlasting life, the reward for his labors.

Saint Ann Parish, Raynham

Holy Family Parish, East Taunton Mourns the death of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II and prays, through Divine Mercy, his soul will now experience the fullness of God's love to which he sought to lead all of us during his papacy.

He taught us how to live, to suffer and to die with dignity and grace.

May he rest in peace.

His Holiness Pope John Paul II May God Grant Him Eternal Rest Stg Anthony Parish~ Taunton

His Holiness Pope John Paul II He Died In Search of Lasting Peace for All Mankind St. Paul Parish, Taunton .

The Anchor - AprU 9, 2005

.

Brushing elbows with a Polish priest; a faint memory revisited By

DEACON JAMES

N.

DUNBAR

FALL RIVER - There is an old adage, "Ifyouth but knew - and age but could."

Once upon a time 50 years ago when I was a studying for the priesthood, a group ofyoung Polish priests and seminarians visited路our house of studies.

Just like their Irish and Italian counterparts, their visit was brief.

Because our time together was usually in silence at meals or at Mass or prayer in the chapel, it offered little time for socializing. Understandably, memories of their visit is fleeting.

It wasn't until several years ago during a visit to one of myoid seminary professors, that he asked me if I remembered the visit by then Father Karol Wojtyla, at the time our pope!

I was floored.

I searched my memory. Was I ever introduced to him? Which one of the visitors was he? A photo had been taken. Surely the big smiling man in the group was the one myoid professor remembered was nicknamed "Lolek," a derivation of "Charlie."

But I had no recall then and now, a frustration that continues to haunt me. And I have no reason to blame the unknowing boy I was for not meeting with the man who would become our beloved Pope John Paul II. I recall that the visitors wore heavy wool soutanes - a cassock with a

higher hem - that served better in walking out and traveling, which European clergy did much of.

However my keen and lingering memory is that the visitors read the Divine Office, commonly referred to as the "breviary," always kneeling.

Perhaps because I was intent on discerning my own prayer life at the time that they deeply impressed me as holy men, fervent in prayer and in love with Christ.

Ironically, it wasn't until 40 years

later, long after leaving the seminary and as a married man, that I began to read the Divine Office daily in anticipation of beginning studies for the permanent diaconate.

And while over the years I have seen many priests and religious and laity - reading the Liturgy ofthe Hours, the memory of those Polish priests at prayer - among them the man who would become one of our greatest pontiffs - continues to be an inspirational icon ofhow this com-

mon prayer of the Church should be prayed. Thoughts of him popped up at all the hours I read this week. I thanked God for him, and as I assisted at Masses offered them for him and asked that one as strong and wise and holy might come to lead our Church.

It may seem reaching a bit, but perhaps being with Karol Wojtyla at prayer in a long-gone yesteryear continues to be a personal inspiration even iff did not recognize him, or that he never spoke to me. Stranger things have happened.

On a lighter note, I have yet to hear from a granddaughter about to graduate from Tulane University, who might remember an incident in which she was told I might become pope some day.

It happened several years ago, following a Mass celebrated by former Providence Bishop Louis E. Gelineau at St. Theresa's Parish in Tiverton, R.I. He took great amusement in telling my wife and two grandchildren .that as a deacon I might be in line for the papacy some day. His words drew laughter and looks of disbelief from the youngsters who knew me all too well.

If I had any high hopes, they were later neatly grounded by my wife, who reminded me that not since 1348 had anyone less than a cardinal been POPE JOHN Paul II prays in the garden at his summer resi- elected as pontiff. dence of Castel Gandolfo, Italy. (CNS photo from L'Osservatore As the 50s hit song said: "MemoRomano) ries are made of things like this."

Every picture tells a story One of the most difficult tasks I've had to complete was this special Anchor edition. The technical component was no problem. It was the subject matter. Compiling a life and times recap of Pope John Pauill tugged mightily on the heart strings.

The Anchor staff began the process for this publication a few weeks before our beloved Holy Father passed away. We prepared correspondence to parishes, collected a cache of stories, and saved scores of photographs of Karol Wojtyla's life on CD. Well before the pontiff went home to the Father, the pain of his passing hit home. I thought I was prepared for the ultimate sad event, but I was wrong.

As a matter of fact, I was in The Anchor office working on this publication when news of the pope's death came last Saturday afternoon. 1 wasn't ready. It hurt.

So many emotions have coursed through these veins while building this magazine. The words about the pope roused joyful memories. But it was the photography that evoked the bulk of emotions.

The old black & whites of young Karol with his beloved mom and dad were very poignant.

The images of a growing young actor, writer, student, and seminarian were heart warming.

Words can't fully describe the man John Paul II was. Photos can.

In 1978 he was strong, athletic, charismatic, and authoritative. . There are images of him kissing babies,

My View From the Stands

By Dave Jolivet

hugging school children, waving at giddy nuns, and joyously celebrating Mass all across this wonderful planet.

Peoples of every nationality, race, religion, and background longed to be pictured with this pope.

Even the beasts of this good Earth felt right at home with this man. How many photos and film

clips are there showing doves that simply refused to leave the pontiff during an audience in St. Peter's Square? As soon as they were released, like boomerangs, they fluttered back to the pope.

Then, there is one of my all-time favorite pope pictures, when he was in Australia with a fuzzy koala bear in tow. The little creature is clinging to the pope just as we have for the past 26-plus years.

The images are many, but personally, the scene that sums up who the man was, is the final four minutes of his public persona.

Mere days before his passing, there he was, high above St. Peter's Square. Clearly it was a great effort for him to bless the faithful below and the faithful all across the world one last time.

It'was so evident he was in great pain not being able to speak, in pain just to swallow, in pain just to take breaths. Yet, the whole world could see that there was no where else he would rather have been at that time. That, pure and simple, was who John Paul II was.

As handsome, athletic, and charismatic as he was in youth, he was no more beautiful than at his final appearance.

Thank you for everything Karol Wojtyla.

Thank you for everything Pope John Paul II.

The Anchor路 April 9, 2005

31

His Holiness Pope John Paul II Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eo.

Saint Lawrence Martyr Parish, New Bedford

His Holiness Pope John Paul II Of Blessed Memory . May He Rest In Peace St. Margaret Parish, Buzzards Bay

His Holiness Pope John Paul II May He Enjoy Life Everlasting Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, New Bedford

-The World Has Lost Its Greatest Leader In Search for Eternal Brotherhood His Holiness Pope John Paul II

His Holiness Pope John Paul II May God Grant Him Eternal Rest St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, North Falmouth

The Parish Family of

With Sadness at the loss of the extraordinary gift Pope John Paul II has been to the Church and the world.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Family, Seekonk In gratitude for his heroic and courageous leadership, especially to the youth of the world.

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The Anchor - April 9, 2005

Saints Peter and Paul Parish at Holy Cross Church, Fall River

St. Mary's in New Bedford Thanks God for the Ministry Of Pope John Paul II and Prays for the Eternal Repose OfRis Noble Soul Rev. Msgr. John J. Oliveira, PA With people throughout the world the members of Corpus Christi Parish of

Sandwich and Sagamore pray that the tireless efforts of Pope John Paul II, now called to the Lord, May bear fruit in unity, peace and love among all men and women.

In 1996 conclave rules, Pope John Paul emphasized secrecy

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - When Pope John Paul II rewrote the rules for the coming conclave, he emphasized repeatedly that the papal election and everything about it must remain secret.

The cardinals and those assisting inside the conclave or at the dormlike building where the cardinals will stay are to take a solemn oath to observe "absolute and perpetual secrecy" about the election. Violation of the oath can mean excommunication.

They are also to promise not to use any audio or video recording devices.

The Sistine Chapel was to be swept for hidden cameras or microphones - a precaution introduced by Pope Paul VI. Notes from the conclave are to be burned with the ballots, and the tally ofeach vote is to be sealed and delivered to the new pope for safekeeping.

The exhortation to secrecy is mentioned 17 separate times in the late pope's 1996 apostolic constitution, ..Universi Dominici Gregis" ("The Shepherd of the Lord's Whole Flock"), which updated conclave rules.

There has always been great curiosity about the inside story of conclave voting. After the 1978 conclave that brought Pope John Paul to the papacy, books were written with detailed descriptions of the shifting numbers of votes in each of the eight ballots before he was elected.

Much of the writing was speculation, but some of it was based on conversations cardinals had with close aides or friends in the excitement of the immediate postelection period.

Pope John Paul apparently did not want that to happen again.

Women

The section banning electronic recording or communication devices expands on earlier precautions against the potential bugging ofthe conclave.

Sophisticated surveillance equipment will be used to scan the area in and around the Sistine Chapel.

But because this time the cardinals will be staying at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a Vatican building half a mile away, it may be more difficult to police electronics - including devices now routinely carried by some cardinals, such as cell phones, pagers, Blackberries or Pocket PCs with wireless capability.

The rules order that the Domus Sanctae Marthae be kept off-limits to unauthorized personnel during the conclave, and especially that no one approach the cardinals when they are being transported to the Sistine Chapel. The bus driver, presumably, will not be allowed to chat with his passengers.

The cardinals are warned against communicating with anyone during the conclave - by writing, telephone or any other means - except in cases of proven urgency. They are barred from reading newspapers or magazines, listening to the radio or watchingTV. The ban on divulging information related to the papal election even extends to the meetings the cardinals have before the conclave begins. That could make cardinals much less willing to talk to reporters in the days before they enter the Sistine Chapel.

All this does not mean the full story of the conclave will never be told. The rules say that once elected the new pope can lift the secrecy provision and let the cardinals tell the inside story.

Very few at the Vatican expect that . to happen.

continuedfrom page J9

While the pope carefully avoided discussing women exclusively in terms of their possible roles as virgins or mothers, he exalted the virtues of both.

He repeatedly pointed to women's potential as bearers of life as part ofthe "feminine genius" that the world so desperately needs as it struggles against the "culture of death" marked by war, abortion and euthanasia.

Perhaps the most poignant example of the pope's trust in women's sensitivity to life was a 1993 letter to an archbishop in war-ravaged BosniaHerzegovina.

Denouncing the widespread practice ofethnically motivated rape during the war, the pope also pleaded

with the victims, their families and their communities to welcome and love any babies conceived as a result of rape.

"The unborn, having no responsibility for the deplorable act that occurred, is innocent and therefore cannot in any way be considered an aggressor," the pope wrote.

"The whole community must draw close to these women who have been so painfully offended and to their families, to help them transform an act ofviolence into an act oflove and welcome," he said.

The family, in its natural role as a "sanctuary of life and love," is the place to start rebuilding societies tom apart by violence, Pope John Paul taught.

FATHER KAROL Wojtyla is pictured reading in a kayak in 1955.

Three years later during a kayaking trip, he was called to Warsaw for the announcement that he was to be made a bishop. (eNS file photo)

Hallmark

continuedfrom page J 7

gassed to death there and in nearby Birkenau. Since most ofthose exterminated were Jewish, many Jews found the crosses, a symbol ofChristianity, offensive.

Pope John Paul intervened to get the crosses removed and to help the Carmelite nuns move, turning their former convent into an interreligious prayer and study center.

After a five-year hiatus caused by the controversies, the International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee resumed its meetings in 1990.

At the pope's urging, the Vatican established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1994, overcoming long-standing arguments in upper Church circles that the Vatican should not recognize the state

Residence

continuedfrom page six

with dresser, night table and clothes stand; and a private bathroom with a shower.

The rooms all have telephones, but the cardinals are prohibited from using them to phone anyone outside the conclave. Cell phone reception inside the building is spotty.

The most convivial place in the residence is the dining room, where the cardinals will take their meals.

The building's main chapel, with its ultramodern decorations, will be crowded ifall 117 voting cardinals try to squeeze in at the same time.

The Domus has four other tiny chapels located at the end ofhallways

Overtures

ofisrael until the status ofJerusalem and of sites sacred to Christianity was resolved. This offered a diplomatic channel to deal with controversies that often included interreligious elements.

In 1999 the Vatican and the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultation fonned a joint commission of scholars to study questions about Pope Pius and the Jews in World War II. After studying published materials for a year, the commission suspended its work amid controversy over access to still-closed Vatican archives from that period.

In 2003, the pope ordered the early opening of some archival material related to Pope Pius and the war, so scholars could better evaluate the period.

on the third and fifth floors of each of the building's two wings. Each contains an altar and four kneelers.

Overall, the residence's atmosphere is rather austere. The marble floors are polished to mirrorlike brightness. The hallways are dimly lit; fire extinguishers stand at the far ends of each corridor.

Each floor of the Domus has an open area with five or six chairs. In addition, on the ground-floor level is a modern conference room, a few smaller rooms for discussions and a large open area with tables, easy chairs and bookshelves offering an eclectic assortment of reading material.

continuedfrom page 2 J

like Sudan, the pope publicly called for mutual respect for religious freedom.

The slaying of a bishop and other missionaries in Algeria, presumably by Muslim extremists, prompted the pope to denounce all those who would kill in the name ofGod. Pope John Paul met several times with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, and with Buddhist, Shintoist, Zen and other East-

em religious representatives. In Thailand in 1984,hevisitedthecountry's87-yearold supreme Buddhist patriarch, Vasana Tara, as the patriarch meditated in front ofa golden statue ofBuddha.

Ten years later, however, the pope's description of Buddhism as "in large measure an 'atheistic' system" occasioned criticism by some Buddhist leaders. The Vatican had to reiterate the pope's deep respect for the religion.

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

33

Continuedfrom page jive . ~. "S~llicitUdo R~i Socia/is ,; ("On

"Memory and Identity: Conversations approved Vatican diplomatic relations about $240 million to creditors of the BetWeen Millenriiums," the pope de- with the state ofIsrael. During his Holy failed bank. An Italian attempt to indict SociillC6ncerns.') in 1987 wamed of a . scribed the ideological struggles of the Land pilgrimage 'in 2000, his historic Vatican bank officials, including its widening gap between rich and poor 20th century as a battle between good prayer at the Western Wall, Judaism's . former president, U.S. Archbishop Paul countries and condemned the transfer of and evil fought on a global stage, offer- . most sacred spot, touched Jews all over Marcinkus, was ruled unconstitutional.

While Pope John Paul conducted a the East-West conflict to the Third ing valuable lessons for the new millen- the world.

At the pope's request, in 1998 the highlypersonalpapacY,hisownpersonnium. He said he was worried, however, World; - "CentesimusAnnus"(''1be l00th that the hopes kindled by the collapse of Vatican issued an unprecedented docu- ality was not a simple one to understand.

Year") in 1991 called for reform of the communism - for a Europe that could ment on the Holocaust, expressing re- Those closest to him said the key was a free-market system in the wake of ''rediscover its soul" and reunite around pentance for centuries of anti-Jewish deep spiritual life, from which he drew communism's collapse, denouncing . "human and Christian values" - were discrimination but defending the war- his energy. He prayed everywhere he massive poverty in the Third World and being frustrated by anti-religious trends time Pope Pius XII; it drew mixed reac- went- morning, noon and night- and across the continent. The pope was par- tion from Jews. Pope John Paul's insis- recommended prayer as the first and consumerism in the West. . The pope underlined these texts on ticularly upset that the new European tence on beatifying Pope Pius IX, who basic Christian response to problems.

In the later years of his pontificate, his trips, taking a deto.ur into a local Constitution signed in late 2004 made raised a Jewish boy Catholic because he shantytown in Latin America or chiding no mention ofChristianity's cultural, his- was "baptized" by a maid, also drew the pope gave two book-length interJewish consternation. views and published two volumes of the world for neglecting Africa's torical and spiritual role.

Ecumenical tensions also clouded Other official dialogues proceeded autobiographical reflections that offered drought-stricken Sahel region. He founded papal development foundations the horizon in post-communist Europe. slowly. In his 1995 encyclical,. "Ut Unum a glimpse into the personal decisions he to show that the Vatican practiced what Disputes over property and evangeliz- Sint" (''1batAlI May Be One"), the pope .made along his spiritual path. He recalled ing methods arose among local Catho- asked theologians and leaders of other how his priestly vocation cut him off it preached.

While insisting that priests steer clear lic and Orthodox churches in the former churches to help him find a way ofexer- from friends but opened up a whole new of partisan political activities, the pope Soviet bloc. The pope's decision to cre- cising papal primacy that could make it source of inner strength. did not expect Church leaders to be mute ate four new dioceses in Russia in 2002 a ministry of unity to all Christians. An In 2002, in a typical blend ofthe traon social questions. In 1980, for ex- brought Catholic-Orthodox dialogue to Anglican-Catholic document in 1999 ditional and the innovative, he added five ample, he endorsed the Brazilian bish- a standstill and ended re~listic hopes outlined a "collegial" model of papal .new "Mysteries of Light" to the rosary ops' call for radical social reforms, say- of traveling to Moscow for a meeting authority as potentially acceptable to and proclaimed a year dedicated to its . ing that if changes were not made, the with Russian Orthodox PatriarchAlexy both churches. But the Vatican's doctri- . recital. He also gave universal Church door to violent. revolution would be II. Still, the pope pressed on with a se- nal congregation issued its own paper, recognition to the Divine Mercy prayer ries of historic visits to predominantly saying that, in the end, only the pope has movement and canonized the Polish nun opened. .

Pope John Paul was a constant critic Orthodox countries, including Roma- the authority to make changes in his uni- who foUnded it. In his continuing effort ofwar and an advocate ofdisarmament. nia, Georgia, Greece, Bulgaria and versal ministry. to revitalize the roots ofthe faith, he deHis aides successfully headed off a Ukraine, where he urged mutual forIn 1999, Catholics and Lutherans dared a "year of the Eucharist" from shooting war between ChiJe and Argen- giveness over past wrongs between approved an agreement on the doctrine October 2004 to October 2005. tina in 1978, the one example of direct Christian churches. ofjustification, resolving the main doc- . The pope accepted suffering as an papal mediation. The pope's countless Pope John Paul's ecumenical and in- trinal dispute that led to the Protestant opportunity for spiritual growth and pleas for negotiation went largely un- terreligious legacy was built largely on Reformation. But the Vatican insisted wrote a deeply philosophical letter on heeded, however, in places like central his personal gestures. In 1979 he trav- that it was still too early for shared Eu- the'subject in 1984. His own hospital Africa, the Persian Gulfand the Balkans. eled to Turkey to meet Ecumenical Or- charist. stays - including operations for an inHe was路 also a tireless defender of thodox Patriarch Dimitrios I and jointly MARK ON THE CHURCH testinal tumor in 1992, a separated shoulhuman rights and, first among them, re- announce the establishment ofan interPope John Paul changed the face of . derin 1993,abrokenthighbonein 1994, ligious rights. During a trip to Cuba in national dialogue commission. He be- the Catholic hierarchy, naming most of an appendectomy in 1996, and flu and a 1998, he appealed for a wider Church came the first pontiffto visit a Lutheran the active bishops in the world and more tracheotomy in February - reinforced role in society, and he stood up publicly church, in 1983, on the 500th anniver- than 97 percent ofvoting-age cardinals. his sympathy for the suffering ofothers. for Catholics in places like China, Viet- sary ofthe birth ofMartin Luther. Later In a few places, his appointees were un- . Wherever he went, he made sure the nam and Sudan. he hosted 150 world religious leaders in popular, but the pope did not back down;路 front row was reserved for the sick and On the pope's initiative, in 2004 the Assisi, Italy, at a "prayer summit" for as he told Catholics in the Netherlands disabled in his audience.

Vatican published a 523-page compen- peace. Visiting a mosque in Damascus, in 1985, "In the final analysis, the pope Unlike his predecessors, he aged in dium ofCatholic social teachings.

Syri~ in 2001, he became the first pon- has to make the decisions." public and made no attempt to hide his RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND tiffto enter a Muslim place of worship.

The pope gave the College ofCardi- infirmities, taking on what his aides ECUMENICALTRIALS In early 2002, determined to offer a nals a more active role in Church gov- called a ministry ofsuffering. Writing to The pope kept up the Vatican's united spiritual response to the Sept. 11, emment, asking their collective advice the world's elderly in 1999, the pope "Ostpolitik" of negotiating with com- 2001, terrorist attacks against the United on major administrative issues and on spoke movingly about the limitations he munist countries, winning gradual con- States, the pope led a "peace train" of pastoral topics like abortion, and con- experienced in old age, but said: "At the cessions on Church freedom. But the more than 200 religious leaders back to vening them in 2001 for a far-reaching same time, I find great peace in thinking pope was not always so diplomatic, es- Assisi, where participants condemned all look at the Church's future. He interna- of the time when the Lord will call me: pecially during trips to his homeland, violence in the name of religion. tionalized the Roman Curia, replacing from life to life!" where he hammered the human rights While continually promoting areas many Italians as department heads but Young people always seemed to theme and embarrassed the regime. ofinterreligious cooperation, including keeping them in most middle-manage- heighten the pope's energy and good Many in Poland said the papal visit in Pro-Life issues, the pope insisted that ment positions. He approved new codes humor, even as his health and stamina 1979 was the spiritual spark that lit the dialogue cannot interfere with the of canon law for the Eastern and West- failed in later years. In Bern, SwitzerfIre of reform: The Polish labor move- Church's duty to evangelize. That was em churches. land, in 2004, he delighted some 13,000 ment Solidarity was formed in 1980, was a main point ofthe controversial Vatican Pope John Paul's term was dogged cheering youths when he struggled sucforced underground and later emerged document, "Dominus Jesus, " which by money matters. The Vatican went in cessfully to pronounce his speech to lead the first noncommunist govern- said the Church must announce to all the red under his pontificate, managed after chasing away an aide who wanted ment in 1989. The rest of Eastern Eu- people "the necessity of conversion to to cover operating expenses through cut- to read it for him. rope soon followed suit.

Jesus Christ." Issued during the Holy backs and appeals to the worldwide Beyond the mark he leaves on the The pope found a major ally in Year 2000, it said non-Christians can church, and finally began turning small institutional Church, Pope John Paul will Mikhail Goroachev, the first Sovietpresi- be saved, but wamed against attribut- surpluses in the mid-l 990s. The pope re- no doubt be remembered by many as a dent to make serious concessions to the ing a divine origin or saving quality to peatedly stressed that the "riches of the very human pontiff: one who hiked in Church, and the two men made history other religions.

Vatican" was a popular myth. The fund- the mountains in his early years and who when they met at the Vatican in 1989.

The pope's unprecedented visit in raising efforts were hurt by the Vatican had to be wheeled to the altar in later The Vatican later moved to establish hi- 1986 to a Rome synagogue - when he bank's involvement in the collapse of years, who traveled the globe to meet erarchies and diplomatic ties throughout called Jews Catholics' "elder brothers" Italy's Banco Ambrosiano in 1982. the people and tend his flock, and who the former Soviet empire. in faith - marked a breakthrough in While denying any wrongdoing, the lived each chapter of his papacy before In his 2005 autobiographical book, Catholic-Jewish relations. In 1994, he Vatican made a goodwill payment of the eyes of the world.

34

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

During papacy, Pope John Paul II published 14 encyclical letters VATICAN CITY (CNS) - During his more than 26-year tenure, Pope John Paul II published 14 encyclical letters.

Here is a chronological list ofall his encyclicals: 1. "Redemptor Hom inis " ("The Redeemer of Man"), 1979: On Jesus Christ and the dignity his redemption brings to the human race.

2. "Dives in Misericordia" ("Rich in Mercy"), 1980: On God the Father and the meaning of God's mercy.

3. "Laborem Exercens" ("On Human Work"), 1981: Social encyclical on workers' rights and dignity marking the 90th anniversary of Pope Leo. XlU's encyclical "Rerum Novarum. " 4. "Slavorum Apostoli" ("The Apostles ofthe Slavs"), 1985: Affinning Eastem Europe's ChIistian culture in a commemoration ofSts. Cyril and . Methodius on the I, IOOth anniversary ofSt. Methodius' death.

5. "Dominum et Vivificantem" ("Lord and Giver of Life"), 1986: On the living presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church and the world.

6. "Redemptoris Mater" ("Mother of the Redeemer"), 1987: On Mary's role in the mystery of Christ and in the Church..

7. "Sollicitudo Rei Socialis" ("On Social Concerns"), 1987: Second social encyclical, marking 20th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's social encyclical "Populorum Progressio. " 8. "Redemptoris Missio" ("The Mission ofthe Redeemer"), 1991: On spreading the Gospel as the central and permanent mandate of the Church.

9. "Centesimus Annus" ("The Hundredth Year"), 1991: Third social encyclical, analyzing the social situation in the light of communism's collapse on the 100th anniversary of "Rerum Novarum. "

POPE JOHN Paul II greets Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the Vatican in June 1997. The nun, who devoted her life to the care of Calcutta's poor in India and founded the Missionaries of Charity, was beatified by the pope Oct.路19, 2003. The process leading up to her beatification was the shortest in modern history. (CNS file photo

by Arturo Mari)

TriPS

continued/rom page 23

States, Aug. 9-16, 1993.

- Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Sept. 4-10, 1993. .

- Croatia, Sept. 10-11, 1994.

- Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka, Jan. 1221, 1995. ' , - Czech Republic and Poland, May 20-22, 1995.

- Belgium, June 3-4, 1995.

- Slovakia, June 30-July 3, 1995.

- Cameroon, South Africa and Kenya, Sept. 14-20, 1995.

- United States, Oct. 4-8, 1995.

- Guatemala, EI Salvador, Nicaragua and Venezuela, Feb. 5-11, 1996.

- Tunisia, April 14, 1996.

-Slovenia,May 17-19,1996.

- Gennany, June 21-23, 1996.

- Hungary, Sept. 6-7, 1996.

- France, Sept. 19-22, 1996.

- Bosnia-Herzegovina, April 1213, 1997.

- Czech Republic, April 25-27, 1997.

- Lebanon, May 10-11, 1997.

- Poland, May 31-June 10, 1997.

-France, Aug. 21-24,1997.

- Brazil, Oct. 2-5, 1997.

- Cuba, Jan. 21-25, 1998.

- Nigeria, March 21-23, 1998.

POPE JOHN Paul II kneels in prayer at the foot of the statue of -Austria, June 19-21, 1998.

Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal May 13, 1982, a year to the day after - Croatia, Oct. 2-4, 1998. an assailant shot and seriously wounded him. The pope consecrated - Mexico and United States, Jan. 22-27, 1999. the world to Mary at the Fatima shrine in 1982. (CNS file photo)

- Romania, May 7-9, 1999.

- Poland, June 5-17, 1999.

- Slovenia, Sept. 19, 1999.

- India and Georgia, Nov. 5-9, 1999.

- Egypt, Feb. 24-26, 2000.

- Jordan, Israel and Palestinian territories, March 20-26, 2000.

- Portugal, May 12-13, 2000.

- Greece, Syria and Malta, May 4-9,2001.

- Ukraine, June 23-27,2001.

- Kazakstan, Annenia, Sept. 2227,2001.

- Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, May 2226,2002.

- Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, July 23-Aug. 2, 2002. ....:.- Poland, Aug. 16-19,2002.

- Spain, May 3-4, 2003.

- Croatia, June 5-9, 2003.

- Bosnia-Herzegovina, June 22, 2003.

- Slovakia, Sept. 11-14,2003.

- Switzerland, June 5-6, 2004.

- France, Aug. 14-15, 2004.

Before becoming pope in 1978, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla visited the United States twice. In 1969 he traveled to 12 cities in 12 days. He spent six weeks in the United States in 1976, visiting 13 cities, lecturing at universities and attending the 41 st Intemational Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia.

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

35

Possible Successors Nigerian could be choice for continuing JPII's papacy style VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Often included on popular short lists of potential papal candidates, Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze could be a natural choice for a conclave seeking to continue Pope John Paul II's style of papacy.

Like Pope John Paul, the 72-yearold cardinal is often described as theologically conservative, yet strongly marked by the Second Vatican Council's positive vision of engaging the world.

Since October 2002 he has headed the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, which in 2004 issued an important document' that took aim at a wide range ofliturgical abuses.

"He'd be like the pope" were he elected, said a former official at the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, which the cardinal headed from 1985-2002, because "even if you disagreed with him, you would know you were working with a clearly committed Christian."

A charismatic, humorous and down-to-earth speaker, the cardinal vigorously encourages contact and cooperation among different religious believers because he says all people are sons and daughters of one God,

and because it is the "best hope" for dinal Arinze moved to what he depromoting justice and peace in'an in- scribed as the heart of the Church concern for the way in which Cathocreasingly globalized world.

Catholics who oppose dialogue or lics celebrate the Mass and the sacrathink it unnecessary, he said during a ments.

In "God's In1999 Vatican visible Hand," a press confer2003 bookence, "are to be length interview, helped to come Cardinal Arinze out of their ensaid his new job trenched posiinvolved plenty tion." ofdialogue as the At the same Vatican sought to time, however, balance the need Cardinal Arinze to allow local has emphasized that the Church's cultural gifts to be expressed in primary mission the liturgy and to is evangelization ensure that the and that dialogue rites were fully should not obCatholic and digscure proclaiming Christ as uninified.

In April 2004 versal and sole CARDINAL FRANCIS ARINZE he released savIOr. While most of the cardinal's Vati- "Redemptionis Sacramentum" ("The can career was dedicated to dialogue Sacrament of Redemption"), an inwith followers of other religions, he struction emphasizing the 'obligation always insisted that the dialogue was to follow the Church's liturgical meaningless unless Catholics were norms, including the requirement that Catholics in a serious state ofsin must firmly Catholic.

In his promotion to the congrega- go to confession before receiving the tion for worship and sacraments, Car- Eucharist.

At a press conference marking the release of the document, the cardinal refused to answer a question about whether Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry, at that time the presumed Democratic nominee for U.S. president and a supporter oflegalized abortion, should be denied Communion unless he went to confession and repented for his position.

"The norm ofthe Church is clear," he said. "The Church exists in the United States. There are bishops there, let them interpret it" However, when asked more gen-. erally if a priest should refuse Communion to a politician who supports abortion, Cardinal Arinze said, "Yes." "If the person should not receive Communion, then he should not be given it," the cardinal said.

Cardinal Arinze also weighed in on the controversy of whether or not priests and bishops should give Communion to members of Rainbow Sash, which describes itself as an organization of gay and lesbian Catholics and their families and friends.

The group has criticized Church statements on homosexuality, and members sometimes attend Mass and receive Communion wearing the sash.

Intellect, pastoral skills se'en as strength of Argentine primate BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNS) - As primate of Argentina, a role that forces him to speak publicly and frequently about the economic, social and political problems facing his country, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is still known as "Father Jorge" to many members of his Buenos Aires flock.

Dressed as an ordinary priest, the 68-year-old Jesuit still uses the city's subway and buses and shuns interviews.

But despite his low media profile, Cardinal Bergoglio often is listed as a possible successor to Pope John Paul II because of his intellect, his pastoral focus and his administrative skills.

His homilies and speeches are filled with references to the fact that all people are brothers and sisters and that the Church and the country need to reach out to ensure that everyone feels welcome, respected and cared for.

While not overtly political, Cardi-

36'

nal Bergoglio has not tried to hide the political and social impact ofthe Gospel message, particularly in a country still recovering from a. serio.us eco." nomic crisis.

Argentina is also:b~girining to face serious challenges !.Q"traditional social norms. In early'2Q,Q5, when the nation's health minist~r suggested decriminalizing abo'diQn and the media gave the suggestion wide coverage, Cardinal Bergoglio accllsed both oflacking respect f(1rthe values held by the majority of A'rgentinesand of trying to convin6e .lite. Catholic Church "to waver in .oljr defense 'of the dignity of the person.'~ The cardinal, praised-for living what he preaches, told the' archdiocese's corps of catechists in March that one of the biggest temptations facing bishops, priests or lay people who work for the Church is the temptation to feel they are special.

"One of the most serious problems that faces the Church and that often

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

threatens the evangelizing tasks of its pastqral ~gents is that we are more cohc~i.ned~\Vith the 'things of God,' so insertedirUhe . . , ecclesiastical world, that we freguently forget to be good Christianst·h.e'said.

Can;li~~U3~rgoglio said there is a tem~tatio~:(~'-~i?eak about "the spirituality ofj:be: \ay person, of the catechist, otthe.pFiest, etc., with the serious d~!)g~r:.of losing the Gospel's originalitY.\ari~·simplicity. And once we~lose':~ig~bF~of the common Chris-tia~ ·hei.Fi~ol1·;.'we face the temptation orbei~$is~:{5b:sj'" of .being attracted to thahwhlGh:entertams and fattens, bUfn~t ifl~f wi{ich nourishes nor helps us to grow. '?

Gospel simplicity and Gospel certainty are the Church's best responses to the cataclysmic changes facing Argentine society, he said.

"Not everything is changing, not everything is unstable, not everything is the fruit of culture or of consensus," the cardinal said.

The Gospel promises of God's ,,~.

•

I>-,~'" -;. , .

love, of salvation in Jesus Christ and of unchanging moral values still have the power to guide and to give life, he said.

The cardinal also told the catechists that in a culture that proclaims "modem dogmas such as efficiency and pragmatism," the Church must lead the way in reaching out to the elderly, to suffering children, to the poor and others excluded from the mainstream of modem society.

Cardinal Bergoglio preached a similar message in May 2003 as the country was still reeling from the 2001-02 economic crisis and as a new president, Nestor Kirchner, was taking the reins of the government.

Preaching on the Gospel story of the good Samaritan, the cardinal said: "Every economic, political, social or religious project involves the inclusion or exclusion of the wounded lying on the side of the road. Each day, each of us faces the choice of being a good Samaritan or an indifferent bystander."

~

-

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Possible Successors Belgian prelate says vocations crisis is the wall against Church's future VATICAN CITY (CNS) Viewed by some as a strong potential candidate for the papacy, Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels has voiced concern over the vocations crisis, saying it stands like a wall against the Church's future development.

He said the effect of the crisis can be seen in fewer Sunday Masses, more priestless parishes and a reduction in pastoral services such as catechesis and ministry to the sick.

During a 2003 visit to Rome, the cardinal said "a pastoral plan for vocations is therefore urgently needed."

The 71-year-old archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels has also called for a modem style ofevangelization that focuses more on the joy of the faith than on doctrinal rules.

Many people are searching for spiritual values, but are attracted more by a well-lived Christianity than by Church teachings or a "dried-up, scholastic theology," he said in an interview in late 1999.

In recent years, Cardinal Danneels has urged a decentralized approach to

Church governance, one that relies more on consultation with the world's bishops.

Fluent in several languages, he has preached many retreats, including one for U.S. bishops in 1990, and has served as president ofPax Christi International.

Cardinal Danneels has been president of the Belgian bishops' conference and a member of the first AIlEuropean Religious Council, founded in 2002 to work to end conflicts and promote a peaceful coexistence among all faiths in Europe.

At the 1999 European Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Danneels prompted the applause of Pope John Paul when he said the Church should not despair about the decline in practice on the continent. Instead, pastors need to convince people that the Gospel can indeed make them happy and bring hope to their lives, he said.

The cardinal often has suggested a more flexible approach to pastoral and doctrinal problems. At the synod, he endorsed a suggestion to convene a councilor universal Church encoun-

ter to look at issues ranging from the shortage ofpriests to the status of divorced and remarried Catholics.

Such a council should also examine the Church's way ofevangelizing, ecumenism, collegiality and the possibility of ordaining married men, as well as social issues like world peace, ecological responsibility and the relationship between rich and poor countries, he said.

The cardinal said that while Vatican officials may not be eager to review current policies on thorny pastoral issues, the Church has a responsibility to do so.

"If the questions are real, the Roman Curia will not be able to avoid them eternally. They will keep coming up at certain moments," he said.

For instance, in discussing the papacy, Cardinal Danneels was among the first to say that he believed Pope John Paul II would resign for the good of the Church if he were unable to bear the burdens of the papacy.

Cardinal Danneels gained wide attention in the 1990s when he called for more consultation and dialogue

within the Church and more effective ways to combat disbelief in the industrialized world.

The basic problem, he said in 1998, is that people no longer have an almost natural perception of the existence and presence of God. "It is not a willful and voluntary atheism, but more an indifference," he said. When people do not believe God exists, their perception of humanity changes, and the individual becomes the final arbiter of good and bad, he said.

Catholic Church leaders must admit they may be part of the problem, Cardinal Danneels said. The Church "must defend the truth, but it also must be aware that defending the truth is not the same thing as never being wrong," he said.

The Church must take its proper place in society "with its witness, its message and its commitment to the poor. Everything else is decorative," he said.

"We have transformed the Sermon on the Mount into a mountain of sermons," the cardinal said.

Variety of experience gives cardinal from India high profile VATICAN CITY - Experience as an archbishop, as a Vatican diplomat and in the Roman Curia gave Indian Cardinal Ivan Dias of Mumbai a high profile in the College of Cardinals at the end of Pope John Paul II's pontificate.

The cardinal frequently 'is a featured speaker at Vatican-sponsored events, yet he is reluctant to grant interviews, and very little ab9ut him has appeared in the press, either in India or abroad.

When the chiefVatican correspondent for Italy's state-run television station - the station that has an exclusive cooperation agreement with the Vatican for broadcasting papal events - tried to interview the cardinal, he politely declined all but a brief exchange.

"Ifyou want pictures of me, I prefer you take them while I'm praying, not while I'm talking. People on their knees are more eloquent," he told the reporter. "Humanity needs witness of faith, not orators."

Just a month after the Indian prelate was named a cardinal in February 200 I, Pope John Paul named him to be one of three presidents of the world Synod of Bishops and a

member of three key Vatican con- calling priests to be models and gregations: doctrine, Catholic edu- . guides of holiness for others.

Cardinal Dias told the priests, cation and worship and the sacra"God forges saints on the anvil of ments. love, which¡ The need for sometimes takes' strong, conthe form of" vinced witnesses cross. of faith is a re"Every saint .curring theme in has had to overhis speeches and come difficulties messages, and suffering of whether advarious kinds, but dressed to an inall of them have ternational gathdone so with a ering of priests, profound interior a Vatican conferpeace and with ence on health spiritual joy. In care, a religious fact, we know order holding its that a sad saint is general chapter a poor saint," he or one of his rare said. interviews.

While his own In October, cultural backCardinal Dias ground and his was the homilist CARDINAL IVAN DIAS diplomatic expeat one,ofthe liturgies held during a Vatican-spon- rience make him sensitive to the need sored international gathering of to respect and value other religions, priests in Malta. He said that "in a Cardinal Dias, 68, was one of the world dominated by information tech- most outspoken supporters ofthe connology, by New Age teaching and by troversial2000 document by the Conthe decline of ethical values," God is gregation for the Doctrine ofthe Faith

a

on the uniqueness of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Speaking to reporters in Rome shoJ:tly after the document, '.'Dominus. Iesus, ". was released, the then,'archbishop said, "It is a reaffirmation of what viâ&#x201A;Ź; believe and what we think;" namely that "Jesus is the only savior of the world."

"We have a right to say who we are, and others can accept it or not," he said.

Giving strength to the suspicion that the document was prompted particularly by the interreligious efforts of Asian theologians, and especially those working in India, he said clarity was needed in countries where the vast majority of people are not Christian.

Trying to find ways to communicate what the Catholic Church believes and to foster dialogue, some Indian theologians have presented the faith in ways that have not always been as clear as "Dominus Iesus" calls them to be, he said.

"The faith of the people is strong and constant," he said. "Ifa few theologians are making mistakes, that is a problem for the bishops."

The Anchor¡ April 9, 2005

37

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Brazilian cardinal has safeguarded human dignity, promoted work Charity is not enough, the cardi- . because it "corrects injustices, re-essaid, "Jesus was born poor among the .SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNS) Safeguarding the dignity of the hu- poor to call our attention to the social nal said: "Jesus, who was born poor, tablishes the basic rights of persons .man person by protecting the family injustice that makes a portion of hu- teaches us to care for the poor with and nations, defeats poverty, combats the revolts that injustice provokes, and promoting employment has been manity increasingly poor, suffering, love, intelligence and efficiency." reduces the violence revolt gives birth Cardinal Hummes was invited to a constant theme ofthe pastoral work humiliated and excluded from suffito and builds peace," he said. be the keynote cient access to of Cardinal Claudio Hummes of Sao Cardinal Hummes also told the speaker at the of the the goods Paulo: Vatican's March conference that in order to serve the The 70-year-old Franciscan is earth." commemoration world and show it the path to salvaThe cardinal known as a peacemaker who has me'of the Second tion, the Church must be in dialogue diated labor disputes, welcomed said that, as Pope Vatican Council with the world, with politicians and new Catholic movements into the John Paul II document on the economists, with members of other Church without pushing aside older wrote in his 1981 Church in the religions and with scientists. groups, and worked to promote Chris- encyclical on huThe Church must "know how to modern world, man labor, tian unity and better relations with the the key text for listen, debate, discern and assimilate "Laborem Jews. explaining the all that is good and true, just and huA frequent visitor to the Vatican Exercens, " work Church's com- manly worthy" in the position ofothand the preacher of Pope John' Paul not ,only creates mitment to jus- ers as well as to share with them the II's Lenten retreat in 2002, Cardinal goods for one's tice and to bring- fullness of truth found in the Gospel, Hummes is considered one of the family and sociing Gospel val- Cardinal Hummes said. leading Latin American candidates ety, it路 also is a . ues to bear on "However, this always must be a way to express for the papacy in the coming coneconomic, social dialogue and not the imposition of the one's personality, clave. and political life. Church's convictions and methods," he From a face-off in the 1970s with creativity and poThe cardinal said. The Church must "propose and Brazil's military government over tential. told the confer- not impose, serve and not dominate."

Training workers' rights to the more recent creCARDINAL CLAUDIO HUMMES The call to follow Christ, to particience that while ation ofChurch-run job-training cen- workers; creating the Catholic pate in the life of the Church and to ters, the cardinal's commitment to jobs and guaranfighting poverty and promoting hu- teeing decent working conditions, Church is called to promote unity, feed the poor are recurring theme~ in man dignity has focused on the im- Cardinal Hummes said, are essential progress and dialogue, "a servant the weekly column Cardinal Hummes factors "in resolving injustice and its Church must have as its priority soli- writes for his archdiocesan newspaper portance of employment. and Website. He also posts his personal At a Christmas 2004 fund-raiser consequences, such as poverty and darity with the poor."

Solidarity is essential for peace E-mail address on the site. for one of the centers, the cardinal路 hunger." .

Port,uguese cardinal could be a'. b.ridge candidate in conclave VATICAN CITY (CNS) - A long- Order for Peace," and is the author time theologian and author, 'PortU- of.numerous articles in theological guese Cardinal Jose da Cruz journals. His writings cover a range Policarpo ofLisbon is seen as an out- of issues from Marian spirituality side candidate for pope - a possible reflecting the Portuguese devotion to bridge candidate between Europe and Our Lady of Fatima - to the moral Latin America, where Portuguese and and spiritual challenges of modem Spanish are the two main languages. society and the role of the Church in For most of his priesthood the 69- civil society. and. culture. year-old cardinal has been associated His interest in, contemporary queswith seminary formation and with the tions of faith was evident even in the Portuguese Catholic University, late 1960s when, as a young priest where he taught and later was rector. doing graduate studies at Rome's Even after becoming patriarch of Gregorian.University, he defended a Lisbon in 1998, his close ties with the thesis on' the theology of non-Chrisuniversity continued because the of- tian religions', and a subordinate pafice automatically makes him: grand per 00' "The Signs of the Times." chancellor of the university.

As head ofthe Portuguese bishops' He is one of only three Latin-rite conference since 1999, he has been bishops in Europe with the title of outspoken in the defense of democ- . patriarch and the only one outside racy and respect for human rights in Italy. The other two are the patriarch the former Portuguese colonies of of Venice and, when a new one is East Timor and Mozambique. elected, the pope - whose titles inBorn Feb. 26, 1936, inAlvorninha, clude "patriarch of the West."

Portugal, Jose da Cruz Policarpo has Cardinal Policarpo has written sev- been a priest since 1961 and a bishop eral books, including "St. Bernard and since 1978: He became patriarch of Marian Theology" and "An Ethical Lisbon in 1998 and a cardinal in 2001.

38

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

He studied for the priesthood at the minor seminaries of Santarem and Almada and completed his theological studies at Christ the King Seminary in Olivais.

Following ordination he was sent to Rome for further studies at Gregorian University, where he earned his licentiate in dogmatic theology in 1968. .

From 1963 to 1968 he also taught and served as vice rector at the minor seminary in Penafirme, Portugal.

In 1970 he began teaching at the Portuguese Catholic University and simultaneously serving as rector of the Olivais seminary,.

He was made an auxiliary bishop of Lisbon in 1978, during his first term as director of the university's theology faculty, 1974-80. He served a second term as head of the theology faculty, from 1985 until 1988, when he was made rector of the university, a post he held for the next eight years.

From 1985 to 1987 he headed a commission that oversaw the estab-

lishrnent of a new regional branch of the university in Porto.

In March 1997 he was named coadjutor archbishop of the Lisbon Patriarchate with the right ofsuccession.

He became patriarch almost exactly a year later and was installed in the College of Cardinals in February 2001.

Cardinal Policarpo is a member of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education, the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for Culture.

In mid-April 2005 he concludes a second three-year term as president of the Portuguese bishops' conference. He has served on the conference's permanent council and on its commissions for doctrine, the apostolate of the laity, Christian education and the cultural goods of the Church.

He has also served as the Portuguese bishops' representative on the Council of European Bishops' Conferences, and the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community..

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Bosnian cardinal saw Yugoslavian split, worked for reconciliation VATICAN CITY (CNS) Bosnian Cardinal Vinko Puljic was appointed archbishop of Sarajevo as the end ofcommunism in Eastern Europe brought hopes for peace, freedom and the respect ofhuman rights in what was then Yugoslavia.

But less than a year after his appointment in 1990, Yugoslavia began splintering into independent nations, largely along ethnic lines, and Sarajevo became the scene of heavy fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina's war for independence.

The 1992-95 war and its legacy have deeply affected the 59-year-old cardinal, considered one of Eastern Europe's strong voices in the coming conclave.

Discrimination, violence and tension among Bosnian Muslims, Catholic Croats and Orthodox Serbs still plague the Balkan nation. In an April interview with the Italian Catholic magazine 1/ Regno, Cardinal Puljic placed part of the blame on the "unjust division of the country" into two federations: one Muslim-Croat and the other Serb-Bosnian. The two-federation system adopted by the 1995 Day-

ton peace accord "is a terrible invention" that "cannot work," he said.

"Divide the country and then pretend it is one nation?" he said. "This is deeply illogical."

Cardinal Puljic has been committed to rebuilding the Church, ravaged by decades ofcommunism and weakened by the mass exodus of Catholics during and after the war, and he has been a staunch proponent of constitutional reforms that would guarantee equal rights for the country's diverse ethnic and religious communities.

"It's necessary to build a state in which we can all be equal," where all citizens, all ethnicities, all religions enjoy equality, he said in May 2004 while in Rome for the plenary assembly of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

He called on the international community to help stabilize the country by doing more, including greater investment in Bosnia-Herzegovina's lagging economy.

"The situation (in Bosnia) still is not resolved," he said in May 2004. "Security has not been re-established, nor have equal rights for the people.

"The international community will not act until this equality (between ethnic groups) becomes a reality, and this is the problem," said the cardinal.

The cardinal said before the Bosnian war, Catholics in the Archdiocese of Sarajevo numbered some 528,000; that number has since dwindled to 215,000. Before the conflict, Catholics in Bosnia numbered some 900,000 people; by 2005 that figure fell to between 460,000 and 590,000, according to 1/ Regno.

Continued discrimination, violence and high unemployment have all helped contribute to the ongoing diaspora.

In 2002, the cardinal received the "International Forgiveness Prize" for his years spent promoting reconciliation. He used the $100,000 prize to rebuild a formation center for young people that had been closed under the communist Yugoslav regime.

Only 49 years old when he became the youngest member of the College ofCardinals in 1994, he said his nomination was a sign of the pope's concern about the war in Bosnia, which left more than 200,000 people dead

and at least 800,000 people displaced from their homes.

But at the 1999 European synod, he reflected on the value of the pope's persistent appeals for peace in the Balkans and the role of the Church, saying: "The power of prayer and the works of charity have brought an end to war in my country."

He remained optimistic for the country's future, insisting the only way forward was reconciliation through forgiveness.

One must keep in mind that the gradual healing ofthe wounds from the war and building reconciliation and trust take time," he said November 2002.

"We hope to succeed in building up dialogue (with Bosnian Muslims and Serbs) and with the help of the law, the possibility of living together," peacefully, he said in 2004.

The cardinal said he believed religions could do much to prevent conflict and reconcile populations. He has been a strong proponent of the Interreligious Council ofBosnia-Herzegovina, which aims to promote religious tolerance and understanding among Muslims, Orthodox, Catholics and Jews.

German theologian one of most respected, controversial cardinals VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Considered the guiding light on doctrinal issues during Pope John Paul II's pontificate, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger will enter the next conclave as one of the most respected, influential and controversial members of the College of Cardinals.

Since 1981 the 77-year-old cardinal - regarded as one of the Church's sharpest theologians - has headed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department charged with defending orthodoxy in virtually every area of Church life.

Since November 2002 he has been dean ofthe College ofCardinals, a key position in the time between popes.

Cardinal Ratzinger will preside over the pre-conclave meetings of cardinals in Rome, set agendas for discussion and action, and be responsible for a number of procedural decisions during the conclave.

Some Church officials at the Vatican think Cardinal Ratzinger could be elected to the papacy, particularly ifthe College of Cardinals is looking for a candidate who is older, experienced and dedicated to Pope John Paul's theologi-

cal and ecclesial agenda. dialogues, took over the handling of Over the years, Cardinal Ratzinger clergy sex abuse cases against minors, met quietly once a week with the pope curbed the role ofbishops' conferences to discuss doctrinal and other major is- and pressured religious orders to sussues facing the Church. Insiders say his pend wayward members. influence was In 2003, Cardisecond to none nal Ratzinger's congregation iswhen it came to setting Church sued an important priorities and didocument that rections and resaid Catholic polisponding to moral ticians must not and doctrinal ignore essential challenges.

Church teachings, "I'm not th~ . particularly on human life. That set Grand. Inquisitor," Cardinalthe stage for a long debate durRatzinger once said in an intering the 2004 U.S. view. But to the election campaign on whether outside world, he has been known Democratic Sen. as the Vatican's John F. Kerry, a enforcer.

He Catholic who supCARDINAL JOSEPH RATZINGER made the biggest ports legal ized headlines when his congregation si- abortion, should be given Communion, Cardinal Ratzinger's congregation lenced or excommunicated theologians, withdrew Church approval of certain also published a document asking Cathobooks, helped rewrite liturgical trans- lic lawmakers to fight a growing movelations, set boundaries on ecumenical ment to legalize same-sex maniage.

White-haired and soft-spoken, Cardinal Ratzinger comes across in person as a thoughtful and precise intellectual with a dry sense of humor. A frequent participant at Vatican press conferences, he is a familiar figure to the international group ofreporters who cover the Church.

He is also well-known by the Church hierarchy around the world, and his speeches at cardinal consistories, synods of bishops and other assemblies often have the weight of a keynote address. When Cardinal Ratzinger talks, people listen, Sometimes his remarks have been bll.!l1tly critical, on such diverse topics as dissident theologians, liberation theology, "abuses" in'lay ministry, homosexuality, women as priests, feminism among nuns, premarital sex, abortion, liturgical reform and rock music.

As Pope John Paul's pontificate developed, some Vatican observers said the cardinal's influence grew.

"He's become the last check on everything, the final word on orthodoxy.

Everything is passed through his congregation," one Vatican official said in

1998.

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

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Mexican路.路路cardinal is outspoken, is experienced at handling media GUADALAJARA, Mexico (CNS) - In a country in which Church leaders hardly dared speak in public for generations because of harsh anticlerical laws, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez of Guadalajara has become one ofMexico's most outspoken men.

His media savvy is evident as evening news programs regularly broadcast his opinions on everything from AIDS to elections.

With a pastoral vigor that leaves his colleagues and assistants breathless, the 72-year-old Mexican cardinal has emerged as a leading Latin American candidate for the Church's next pope.

In a recent interview he said the greatest challenge facing the Catholic Church today is the advance of secularism, or "living as ifGod never existed." .

"It brings to Catholic people a 'light' mentality of fun and money without moral commitment, which is very damaging to Christian life," he said.

A priest since 1957, Cardinal Sandoval became archbishop of Guadalajara in 1994 after his predecessor, Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas Ocampo, was killed by drug-gang hit men at Guadalajara's airport. Cardi-

nal Sandoval gained immediate international attention for his public campaign for justice in that case.

The son of a small farmer, he has made an indelible mark on the archdiocese of seven million Catholics with his demanding style of administration. He founded a Church-run media group whose newspaper now rivals the city's largest dailies.

"He says exactly what he thinks and doesn't pull any punches," said Deana Molina, the cardinal's personal assistant.

Those who surround the car- CARDINAL JUAN dina I commonly describe him as friendly yet blunt, always with a smile on his face and up for a friendly chat, while at the same time never hesitant to give his honest - and direct - opinion

when asked.

"I'm open to society," the cardinal said in an interview earlier this year. "Actually, people often seek me out. All types of people: businessmen, politicians, those from the media world.'~

SANDOVAL INIGUEZ

Along the way, the cardinal has ruffled some feathers, particularly those of politicians.

"If elections are coming and I say that stealing votes is a sin, that deceiving the people is a sin," the cardinal said, "they (politicians) complain that I'm getting in-

volved in politics."

That is a very sensitive issue in Mexico, where anti-clerical laws have limited the role ofthe Church in public life since the 19th century. Con-

stitutional reforms in the early 1990s allowed the clergy to lead more public lives but retained restrictions on their involvement in politics, education and the media.

Cardinal Sandoval, however, has been at the forefront of testing the law's boundaries. During the 2002 election campaign, he organized political discussion workshops in churches, where people were counseled to vote according to Catholic principles.

When he told voters not to choose candidates that supported legalizing abortion, a small leftist party filed charges against him, saying he broke laws on the separation ofChurch and state. The cardinal responded that he never endorsed a particular party, and prosecutors eventually dropped the case.

Ildefonso Losa Marquez, a Guadalajara journalist who has covered politics and Church affairs for more than 50 years, says the cardinal and his penchant for challenging the political establishment could not have come at a better time for Mexico and the Church.

"Guadalajara and the country needed a cardinal with his character," Losa said.

Vienna cardinal's diplomatic, office skills tested by turmoil VATICAN CITY (CNS) - As archbishop of Vienna and president of the Austrian bishops' conference Cardinal Christoph Schonbom's diplomatic and administrative abilities have been tested by a period ofChurch turmoil involving laity and the hierarchy.

The conflicts have involved disagreement over the nature of the priesthood, the role of lay people and the authority of the hierarchy. The tensions were heightened by a controversy over Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer, the former archbishop of Vienna who resigned in 1995 amid allegations that he had sexually abused minors.

Beyond his pastoral trials, the 60year-old Dominican has the talents and experience that make him one ofa handful of cardinals consistently mentioned as possible papal candidates.

Many have given Cardinal Schonbom high marks for guiding a difficult dialogue with dissident groups and disaffected Catholics in Austria. At the same time, the number ofAustrians leaving the Church has increased substantially in recent years, and differences

40

among bishops have been made painfully public.

The Church in Austria suffered a further blow in July 2004, when the media published pictures ofpriests and students ofthe Sankt Polten seminary kissing and fondling each other, and when Austrian authorities found thousands of pornographic photographs on seminary computers.

After a formal Vatican investigation ofthe diocese and its seminary, the seminary was closed and its bishop, Bishop Kurt Krenn, resigned.

Cardinal Schonbom said the bishops' conference and the nuncio toAustria had "wamed for months" that Bishop Krenn was "dangerously ignoring the rules of recruitment" by admitting students to the Sankt Polten seminary without checking why they had been rejected elsewhere.

The scandals have lowered Cardinal Schonborn's ranking on most media's lists of papal candidates, but he has not lost his popularity completely and seems, at least on paper, to have many ofthe qualities most cited as nec-

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

essary to be pope.

For instance, the cardinal speaks French, English, Italian, Spanish and Latin, and he delighted journalists during Pope John Paul II's June 1998 trip to Austria by fielding one question in Esperanto.

In 1996 he was invited to preach Pope John Paul's Lenten retreat, a special sign of papal favor. He is a member of the Vatican congregations for the doctrine of the faith, Eastem churches and Catholic education as well as the Pontifical Council for CUlture and the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Goods of the Church. He is a former member of the International Theological Commission.

In October2003, Cardinal Schonbom created a small storm of controversy when he commented to Austrian state radio that Pope John Paul was approaching "the last days and months ofhis life" at a time when the Vatican was adding items to the increasingly frail pope's schedule.

When he became a cardinal in January 1998, people outside Austria already recognized his name: Cardinal

Schonbom was the main editor of the "Catechism ofthe Catholic Church." He guided the team of seven bishops that produced the catechism in its original French version in 1992. He also coordinated the contributions of about 1,000 bishops to its drafting and writing and oversaw several of its translations.

In editing the catechism, the cardinal strongly defended the preservation of traditional language in texts and dismissed the debate over inclusive language as an issue that would quickly be forgotten. The catechism did not use inclusive language.

But it was Cardinal Schonbom who formally asked Pope John Paul in October 2002 to approve drafting a more concise catechism, saying the current volume路 of more than 2,800 articles of Church teaching is too ponderous "to be the simple guide to the faith that is needed by Catholics."

The cardinal was then named part of a IO-member commission charged with preparing an official Catholic minicatechism; a ISO-page draft was completed in February 2004.

P.ope shared special relationship with reporters - and they with him By

JOHN THAVIS

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - For the small corps of journalists who cover the Vatican, Pope John Paul II's death marked the departure of a global protagonist and the end of an era.

Many of them also felt a personal sense of loss. They had witnessed the many seasons of his papacy - from vigorous globe-trotter to feeble old man - and gradually had formed a bond of sympathy with their newsmaker.

For those who had followed this pontificate from start to finish, the world suddenly seemed a dimmer place. .

During the second papal conclave of 1978, I was working for a Rome newspaper when news came over the wire that white smoke was pouring out of the Sistine Chapel.

I hopped on my bicycle and pedaled furiously to St. Peter's Square, in time to hear an elderly cardinal come out and proclaim, "Habemus papam!" (We have a pope!)

When the cardinal announced that the new pontiff was Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, most of the Italians in the crowd didn't recognize the name. "An African?" they wondered out loud. No, a Pole. More to the point, a non-Italian. There was perceptible grumbling.

Then Pope John Paul came out to the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. 1 stood right below because [ wantc:;d a good look at him, and I was anlazed at his youthful and energetic countenance. When he began to speak in Italian, he quickly won over the crowd.

From the beginning, it was clear this would be a media-friendly pope. He spoke seven languages, thrilled the multitudes and spoke his mind. He wrote a lengthy encyclical in his first year, but always understood the value of a sound bite and photo op.

Like most reporters who covered his papacy, I had the most direct access to Pope John Paul during his foreign trips. Until the mid1990s, the pope would stroll back into coach class of his charter jet and run the journalistic gauntlet, taking questions from the 50 or so reporters allowed on the plane.

He was courteous with reporters and clearly enjoyed the repartee. On rare occasions he showed his irritation, bristling at a question about birth control in India or telling one reporter in an aisle-c1og-

about a story or about his treatment in the press.

In 2002, he even asked 14 journalists - including some who had been critical of the Vatican - to write the meditations for his Way of the Cross liturgy on Good Friday. As one of those invited to contribute, it occurred to me that the pope had an unusual amount of faith in reporters: He was convinced that our knowledge and ex-

perience might actually shed new light. on the episodes of Christ's paSSIon. As the pope's own "via crucis .. ended, the same journalists were thinking about the many things that changed during John Paul's pontificate - the increasing frailty, the loss of speech and the faded smile - and what didn't change: his intense faith in a new life that gives meaning to human suffering.

ging huddle to sit down.

On the world stage, he had an actor's sense of drama and timing and appreciated symbolic gestures.

That made him a reporter's dream and left journalists with some indelible impressions: the pope dropping in on a slum~dwelling family in Latin America, visiting a Jewish synagogue or riding a "peace train" to Assisi with religious leaders from around the globe.

The pope's energy level in earlier days was amazing. Vatican reporters have marveled for years at the pope's ability to bounce back from dire health problems, including the 1981 shooting, a blood virus, a broken thigh bone, a dislocated shoulder, gallbladder removal, an appendectomy, and various fevers and falls.

In 1992 in Angola, after watching the pope wince momentarily as he walked up a set of altar steps, I asked a papal aide if the pope was feeling all right. A month later, doctors removed a tumor the size of an orange from his colon.

That prompted the first of many reports of imminent papal death; if NEWLY ELECTED Pope John Paul II, the former Cardinal Karol the pope was bothered by what appeared in the papers, he never let Wojtyla, spontaneously greets journalists at the Vatican Oct. 21, on. The pope's secretary, Polish 1978. The press corps was in Rome to cover his installation as Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, pontiff the following day. Pope John Paul maintained a good relaused to enjoy remarking - with a tionship with the media, often meeting with them on his aircraft sense of black humor - that sev- during travels. (CNS file photo) eral journalists who predicted the pope's demise were no longer with us.

One of the hardest things for Vatican journalists to witness was the progress of the nervous system disorder that gradually immobilized the pope over the last 10 years of his life.

Despite some frustration, the pope seemed to accept these debilitating changes with the serenity of faith, convinced it was a chapter of life that the world should witness. Not all journalists und~rstood this.

On foreign trips, some reporters observed episodes that seemed unthinkable a few years earlier. After he could no longer walk, the pope had to be lifted and heaved into cars, thrones and lifts in undignified fashion. Many reporters were moved by these scenes and often chose not to write about them.

CATHOLIC NEWS Service Rome bureau chief John Thavis The ailing pope probably would greets Pope John Paul II aboard a papal flight about to leave Plovdiv, not have minded reading the details Bulgaria.

For journalists on board these flights, it is a rare opportuof his decline, however. He seemed to trust reporters, and journalists nity to greet the Holy Father. In back are Vatican spokesman Joaquin covering the Vatican cannot re- Navarro-Valls and Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano. (CNS member him ever complaining photo)

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

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Jewish ,~ommu.nity mourns thepassing ofPope John Pa'ulII The Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford extends its heartfelt condolences to the Fall River diocese on the passing of Pope John Paul II. The pope demonstrated a keen understanding ofJudaism and the history ofthe Jews. He worked tirelessly to bring Jewish and Catholic communities to a historic Closeness.

As a boyand young man, the pope lived alongside Jews in a small Polish town. He often spoke ofhis childhood experience in Poland as a witness to the suffering and destruction of the Jewish people. He stated that these events were a motivating factor for him to dedicate his life to building a world in which such an inhumanity,might never again occur..

Friends of Israel will never forget the pope's moving visit to Israel in 2000, including his trip to Yad Vashem and to the Western Wall.

Pope John Paul II and the Jewish community shared a common struggle against the oppressive Communist rule. The pope played a.vital role in the fall ofCommunism, stand-

ing with those who sought to bring down the Iron Curtain, and in the process, expanding religious freedom and democracy to millions ofpeople.

In his childhood in Poland the pope had a close childhood friend, Jerzy Kluger, who was Jewish, and it is believed that this was the beginning of the pope's positive relationship with the Jewish people.

The two friends were eventually reunited decades after WWII and shared a heartwarming embrace at Yad Vesham, in 2000, on the pope's historic trip to Jerusalem.

Events of his papacy that are especially significant to the Jewish community is that he was the first pope to recognize Israel (1984), the first to visit a Jewish synagogue (1986), and the first to visit Israel.

"May the memory of his life be a blessing for the Righteous."

Wil Herrup, Executive Director Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford New Bedford, MA

A PRAYER that begins "God of our Fathers ..." was left in a crevice of Jerusalem's Western Wall by Pope John Paull!. He was the first pontiff to pray at Judaism's most sacred site. (CNS photo from Reuters)

Jewish Federation of New Bedford offers condolences The Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford Extends its heartfelt condolences and sympathies To the Fall River diocese Upon the passing of Pope John Paul II, He will forever be remembered In the annals of our ancient people For his respect and love Fora lifetimeoffriendship with the Jewish people That began with his childhood in Wadowice Poland Where he witnessed with horror the murder of his childh~oo Jewish friends , . " And t~e I:I~I~caust that overtook the Jewish people in Europe' For hiS ViSit 10 the year 2000 to our eternal city of Jerusalem. ~ay the Memory ofthe Righteous Be for a Blessing.

U.S. PRESIDENT Bill Clinton greets- Pope John Paull! outside Regis University in Denver Aug. 12, 1993. '(CNS file photo by,Joe Rimkus Jr.) , '

His Holiness Pope John Pa'ul II Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him Lord!

Sto M~chae~, FaU R~ver

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REV. JESSE Jackson greets Pope John Paul II at the end of the pope's weekly audience at the Vatican. (CNS photo from Vatican) 42

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

Possible Successors Scholarly Venice cardinal intent on raising profile of the Church VENICE, Italy (CNS) - Cardinal路 Angelo Scola, the patriarch ofVenice, is a scholarly pastor intent on raising the Church's cultural and social profile.

His pastoral energy and theological intensity have made him the latest and perhaps most formidable Italian candidate for the papacy.

The son of a truck driver, the 63year-old cardinal has made an international name for himself with his theological scholarship, preaching of retreats, youth and family ministry, university administration and writings on cultural issues.

As patriarch ofVenice since 2002, he has injected new life into a see that, while hosting millions of tourists every year, is experiencing demographic collapse. Culturally and artistically, it is a unique comer of the world - and one that has given the Church three popes in the last century.

Inside and outside the Church, observers sometimes describe Cardinal Scola as a cultural warrior with a penchant for bluntness.

Local Catholics relate that, at a 2002 ceremony to mark his official entrance into Venice, the city's poli-

ticians spoke in customary elliptical anything," said Carmella della Puppa, terms about the Church's proper place a member of the pastoral council at in what is predominantly a lay cul- San Marco Parish in Mestre, across ture. the lagoon from Venice.

In response, Cardinal Cardinal Scola Scola has chalmade it clear that lenged his own he was not going community of to be boxed in by Catholics and archaic arrangepastoral assisments that limtants with fresh ited the Church's ideas and influence or projects. They invoice. clude: "We show - A major deference to the new educational civil authorities complex in when they reVenice called the spect the divine Studium origin of their Marcianum, power and when which aims to they serve the strengthen people with obCatholic identity jective reference through courses CARDINAL ANGELO SCOLA to the law of that run from God," the cardinal said. nursery school through postgraduate That kind oflanguage was seen as programs. a refreshing change by many Catho- A number of fresh contacts and lics in the patriarchate. dialogues with Orthodox Church "I like him a lot. He's brash, he's leaders, with the goal ofre-establishdetermined, and he's not afraid of. ing Venice as a bridge to the East.

-Anew magazine, Oasis, to give moral and intellectual support to Catholics living in Muslim-majority countries of the Middle East.

- Plans to create a regional theological faculty.

- Reorganization of the patriarchal curia under six new vicars.

- A new version of the ancient practice of Lenten stations, with 30 special liturgies in Venetian hospitals and homes for the elderly.

- Increased contacts with city and regional offices, including requests for public funds for some archdiocesan projects.

What Cardinal Scola quickly discovered was that many Venetians were not comfortable with such a high-profile and ambitious role for the Church. One elderly priest reminded the cardinal gently that "in Venice we move around by gondola." It was goslow advice that the cardinal never took.

Father Fausto Bonini, a parish pastor in Mestre, said Venetian Catholics did not immediately take to their new patriarch, but his open personality gradually won over most people.

Milan cardinal seen as strong, articulate pastoral voice VATICAN CITY (CNS) - As archbishop ofMilan, Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi has become one of the strongest and most articulate pastoral voices in Italy, building a reputation as a conservative on doctrine and a liberal on social issues.

In part because he heads Italy's biggest diocese, and in part because of his impeccable theological credentials, Cardinal Tettamanzi enters' the conclave as a slight favorite for the papacy in the eyes of many observers, but it is far from a broad consensus, even among Italians.

The author of more than 25 books, the 70-year-old cardinal is considered one of the Church's top experts in bioethics, marriage and family ministry, the lay apostolate and youth formation. He is said to have been a leading behindthe-scenes contributor to Pope John Paul's 1995 encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" ("The Gospel of Life").

Increasingly, Cardinal Tettamanzi has spoken out on social issues at home and abroad, highlighting in particular the pitfalls of globalization. He drew criticism from the right when, as archbishop of Genoa, Italy, in 200 I, he

defended protesters at a G-8 meeting in the city and.spoke movingly of the new situations ofpoverty in the world.

Since his appointment to Milan in 2002, the cardinal has repeatedly challenged the city's residents and institutions to live up to Gospel values in the way they treat the weakest ofsociety's members.

"The rights of the weak are not weaker rights, but are completely equal to the rights of the strong," he said.

Short, rotund and quick to smile, Cardinal Tettamanzi is well-known to his fellow cardinals and bishops around the world, who have watched him for years at Vatican synods and Church conferences. Many see in him the traditional Italian talents for building consensus and calming disputes.

His positions on social and moral issues closely follow the teachings developed by Popes Paul VI and John Paul II. Speaking in mid-2004 at an annual Italian Church conference on social issues, Cardinal Tettamanzi reflected on democracy and Catholicism. He said that in many Western countries,

democratic values are undermined by "a false conception of man, of human life, ofhuman sexuality, and ofhuman relations with others and with God:" The right to life - from conception to natural death - is the source of all other rights, he said. He warned that biological advances today tendto manipulate or destroy human life rather than protect it.

Cardinal Tettamanzi also addressed the question ofwhether democracy can be exported to various countries and regions of the world. He said the values of democracy should indeed be spread, because they should be enjoyed by everyone. But he said the way to do this was never through violence - a remark seen as an implicit criticism of the U.S. policy in Iraq.

The cardinal has strongly defended marriage as a permanent union between a man and a woman and criticized legislative efforts to legalize same-sex unions as an equivalent form of marriage.

His approach to the question of homosexuality is nuanced, however. In a 1997 article published by the Vatican newspaper, he emphasized that

"the Catholic Church does not have a separate set of criteria for judging the morality of heterosexual and homosexual activity." He also cited the need for respect, compassion and sensitivity to those with homosexual orientation.

Cardinal Tettamanzi came to the world's attention during the 1999 Synod of Bishops for Europe. At that synod, the cardinal took on a leadership role, and Pope John Paul's favor and respect were reflected by his peers.

The pope appointed Cardinal Tettamanzi head ofthe committee that produced the meeting's final message, and bishops elected the cardinal to the council that collaborated with the pope on his apostolic letter marking the synod's formal conclusion.

Since then, Vatican and Italian media often have turned to Cardinal Tettamanzi for an "expert opinion" on a host of topics, ranging from genetic engineering to political ethics, one of his specialties. He is a member of seven important Vatican agencies and has served as secretary-general and vice president of the Italian bishops' conference.

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Possible Successors West African cardinal ,'t;1~s~{~xperience with tough p~oblemS.~t~'r:t~~e Church ':"'~~., .

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -If car- Madagascar. dinals look to the continent where CaIn recent years, Cardinal Tumi has tholicism is growing the fastest for the been one of Cameroon's most outsponext pope, they might zero in on Car- ken voices, demanding an end to govdinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi of' ernment corruption and restrictions Douala, Cameroon. on press freedoms. He also has acThe 74-year-old West African car- cused the country's police force of dinaI speaks seven languages and has torture and carrying out summary exfirsthand experience with two of the ecutions,' most difficult problems facing the In a September 2004 speech deCatholic Church in the third millen- .livered in Milan, Italy, the cardinal nium - relations with Muslims and said his country was ruled by "the law of the strongest" and that elections vocations.

Islam is growing in his country, were continually marred by ballot rigand the cardinal did not hesitate to ,ging. , He said "the facade ofdemocracy" confront the government when it was dominated by Muslims and when the in Cameroon "exists more for creatrights of Christians were threatened. ing a pleasing, external image than for But he also has promoted dialogue promoting individual and collective with Muslims, on the local level and 'liberties,'J'he proof is (found in) elecas a member of the Pontifical Coun- . toral frmfd." , cil for Interreligious Dialogue.

Sinq~ :independence from France A former seminary rector and phi- .' and' Ort<at.-Britain in 1961, Cameroon losophy teacher, Cardinal Tumi is " '~has neV.er had transparent elections," actively concerned with the proper he told Fi'des, the news agency of the formation of priests and has strongly Congregation for the Evangelization defended Church teachings on of Peoples, in October 2004, soon priestly celibacy. after election results handed President He has served as president of the Paul Biya a third consecutive term in Cameroonian bishops' conference.' office.', and president of the Symposium of :" :,The ·c.ardinal, along with the Episcopal Conferences ofAfrica and :' nation 'sather bishops, has repeatedly .

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called on Biya:~~:' in power since 1982 - to lef the:;fQ,u.ntry ':rnove toward political pluralism: . ,:' Cardinal Tumi said'it was the duty of the Church "to denollnce the dishonesty of some government officials" since "the Church has' adtity to educate people about honesty." .

In a September 1999 interview with Catholic News Service, he spoke of the need to develop African na-~' tions, saying if governJ11ents did their jobs, the Church would not have to be so involved.

"Development of the person is most important," he added. "Development of things comes after or concurrently."

Pope John Paulll appointedCardinal Tumi president of the synods of bishops on priestly formation in 1990 and on Africa in 1994. In 2004, the pope appointed him to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

The pope also chose Cameroon as the site for the unveiling of his 1995 apostolic letter on Africa, which called for an ambitious program of evangelization on the continent.

Since the late 1970s, the Catholic Church in Africa has nearly doubl~d in size, but .Catholics still make up

only 15~.percent of the continent's population.

A strong believer that Africa must guide its own destiny, Cardinal Tumi said at the 19,94 synod that the quick ev.acuation:oJ foreigners from Rwand~ and 'other parts of Africa when'·.ethnic and political violence began.s!)owedthat Africans must be the chief-promoters of peace and development on the ·continent.

"When all' is said and done, I do not blamethem (foreigners) for leaving; if's normal, and it proves that Africans must build Africa," he said.

"We should not wait for the outside world ": Outsiders can 'give assistance, he added, but "peace must be built in Africa by Africans."

Born Oct. 15, 1930, in Kikaikelaki, a town in the Diocese of Kumbo, Cameroon, Christian Tumi received much of his seminary and postgraduate education outside his country.

Following studies at a minor diocesan seminary in Cameroon, he transferred to a major seminary in Nigena.

Besides his native language, Nso, Cardinal Tumi,speaks Pidgin, Hausa, Latin, English::French and German.

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that Church membership. in the Czech VATICAN CITY(CNS)- Te~years treaty with the Vatican. as a "hidden priest" in Czechoslovakia, . In May 2004, after the country's ad- Republic was dropping in,the post-comwashing, the windows of government mission to the European Union, Cardi- munist era. The.country· is currently re, garded as one of buildings, might have left ~a:rdimll nal Vlk accused .. ,....,. - Etrrdpe's least reMiloskiv:Vlk UI)prepared for~l:he inter- the government of .----....;...----------.-.:... persecuting the ,: " ".: , . " ~'~-" ': ligious territories, natiollalspotlight.

Buts\nce his 1994 appoiritmenUo the Church by persis'~ • E. ,( . wit:lf~O percent of College of Cardin~ls', the 72-year-old tently blocking at'"'''"'\'-''' . '''~' '., ,·i~~ ..f.I9.5 ~ill~on archqisliop PrilgUe has adapted to a tempts to retum ,,' . '. " '_,...:'~.~;.\::::-.::' , c!tlzensdl~c1am~.;:'~ J':~~i .' ,'.'it:Jg ani'religious leaci~~hJB. f.9Ie:·ai1t01;!K.pUropean bish- Church properties .' ':~. -.~ . ~1. ops' '<".,:-.,.:: ..,-, ,,~,... ':' seized under com~ ~" . ;, '. ' affiV•.Lion. About . . '. .J..,l ' 27 percent of the A~tl1i~rstI;:;;:St'European president munism and faili' . .. ' ' ,, ') v .~. oftheCoiincil:of European Bishops' ing to codifY the " .":'pe~p'le are Catho" ; . """~ '. 'lie.

Conferences, -l993~200 I, he has worked Church 's leg~1 . '",' Gardinal Vlk on j~ue.s d,ear Pope John Paul II's rights.

In July 2004, has been a strong heah'~ intQe'East, rebuilding Church Vlk and 'societY after communism, and in the Cardinal supporter of West; defenoing Christian values in the agreed to give up Catholic lay face. of secularism, materialism and Church demands movements, and for property and moral collapse. during the 1999 But rebuilding the Church after com- land restitutions European synod CARDINAL MILOSLAV VLK munisl)1 in the Czech Republic has not and to seek finanhe said their imcial compensation instead. Although this pact has been "amazing," and they been without its difficulties.

He. appealed for constitutional arbi- was widely believed to have brought an should be given room to grow. Like relitration in February 2002 after a new law overall Church-state agreement closer, the gious orders in past centuries, lay movegave:~e government the right to approve Czech Republic remains the only East ments today express the "needs of our the;:opening of places of worship. The European country still lacking a formal time," he said in an interview. :: " following year he sharply criticized the legal framework for Church activities.

The highlighting of the laity's role Meanwhile, census figures showed may even be a hidden benefit ofthe priest Czech Parliament's refusal to ratifY a

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The Anchor - April 9, 2005

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."Cze:ch cardinal once washed ,windows, leads Europe's bishops

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shortage, he saidf\Vhile the lack ofclergy has serious impli~~tions for sacramental life, "the life ofthe Church is not only the sacraments," he said.

The most important thing is to genuinely "live the life ofthe Gospel," he said.

Gray-haired and robust, Cardinal VI\< speaks"with conviction and a smile, sometimes tapping a table or lectern'for emphasis. Candid by nature, he does not

sby away from delicate topics. as wben he told a Czech interviewer that while barred from ordination by communist authorities he pondered whether to marry and start a family.

"Various girls swirled around me, and one fell in love with me. But I recognized my vocation-I knew I wouldn't have been happy in marriage and wouldn't have made the woman happy," he said.

He added that he had always accepted celibacy as pari: of his priesthood.

Bom May 17, 1932, in Lisnice, Czechoslovakia, he studied history at Prague's Charles University before enrolling in a seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Ceske Budejovice June 23, 1968.

BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman, second from right, met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in September 2004, along with, from left, diocesan seminarian Jay Mello, diocesan priest Father Gerard P. O'Connor, who is at work at the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome, and diocesan seminarian Peter J. Fournier. (Fotografia Felici)

FORMER BISHOP of Fall River, and now Archbishop of Boston, Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., greets the Holy Father.

The Anchor - April 9, 2005

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. U.S. PRESIDENT George W. 'Bu~h and Pope John Paul " grasp hands during their meetingat the Vatican. In their first rhe~ting since the Iraq War, the pope told Bush he was deeply concerned about the "grave unrest" in Iraq and called for a speedy restoration of sovereignty in the country. (CNS photo from L'Osservatore Romano)

'. Po"PE JOHN'. Paul' II 'Iilee'ts with Russian 'President Vladimir Putin in hiS privafelibrary at the' , Vatic.an. The, R:i:.i~$ianico~ .of O!}r Lady of Kazan, an 'object of veneration for centuries, rests on a table between them. The pontiff thanked Putin .for his efforts to bring the Russian Orthodox and Catholic churches together.

(CNS photo from Reuters)

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The Anchor -

April路9, 2005

POPE JOHN Paul II, above, stands at the window of his balcony as fireworks explode in Rome at the start of the third millennium January 1. The pontiff welcomed the new year with a wish that 2000 be filled with joy and peace. The pope, right, waves during Mass marking his 25th anniversary as leader of the Catholic Church in St. Peter's Square. During the evening service, the 83-year-old pontiff prayed for the "wisdom, holiness and strength" to keep leading the Church. (CNS photo from Reuters)

The Anchor路 April 9, 2005

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II '.

Farewell my Holy Father, this child bids you good-bye.

My words come much more slowly than tears flow from these eyes.

So empty now the Earth .feels with you no longer here.

How did it pass so quickly, these past twenty-six years?

You opened eyes to Mary as one way to her Son. You opened ears to hear that life belongs to everyone.

You opened hearts ofmany to love as Christ has loved.

You changed the souls ofmillions with wisdom from above.

Papa, thank you for your love.

Thanks also for your pain.

Thanks for times you when were stern, we'll never be the same.

Your mission is complete now, the balance we must do.

For ever and for always, John Paul II, we love you.

- Dave Jolivet Editor The Anchor

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The Arochor - April 9, 2005