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Pope John Paul II
Apr. 1st, 2005 11:24 amUsually, I prefer to keep things focused on fandom around here with fics, rantings, Anakin fangirling, etc.. But every now and then, I lower the flag for the noteworthy regardless if they have anything to do with fandom.
This has been a tough day for the world's Catholics as well as for anyone else who admires and respects Pope John Paul II. This was supposed to be a happy day, and even though I'll still head out for Midnight Madness, it'll be with a heavy heart. From my own viewpoint, he was the 20th century's greatest pontiff, perhaps one of the greatest in the history of the Church. Do I think he will be canonized? Eventually, yes. It'll always be to my disappointment that I'd never had the chance for even a live glimpse of him during his lifetime.
For too long, the Church was too much in the background when it came to the moral issues of the day, something he must have realized as a young Polish priest during the Nazi occupation 60-odd years ago. This is why I think he was absolutely the right person at the right time when he was a dark horse choice for Pope in 1978 (as a kid, I remember how shocked the media was that the Pope wasn't another elderly Italian). The relatively young and dynamic Pope was exactly what was needed to establish himself as not only a spiritual leader for just Roman Catholics, but a moral voice for the entire world. It was his open support for Solidarity that was the beginning of the end of Soviet communism. It was his efforts that have greatly improved relations between Catholics and Jews. He reached out to everyone and everybody, even attempting to put some salve on the millenia-year-old wounds between the Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was unafraid to challenge everyone's perceptions, regardless of one's social, economic, or political beliefs. And he was unwavering; in a world of wishy-washyness, that's something to be admired even if you didn't agree with him. He carried on as long as he could, even as his health was failing him. It isn't to say everything was perfect under his watch; there's still work to be done within and outside of the Church. But with him gone, there is a void in the Christian world. But whomever is chosen, I pray that he too will be the right person for the right time.
This has been a tough day for the world's Catholics as well as for anyone else who admires and respects Pope John Paul II. This was supposed to be a happy day, and even though I'll still head out for Midnight Madness, it'll be with a heavy heart. From my own viewpoint, he was the 20th century's greatest pontiff, perhaps one of the greatest in the history of the Church. Do I think he will be canonized? Eventually, yes. It'll always be to my disappointment that I'd never had the chance for even a live glimpse of him during his lifetime.
For too long, the Church was too much in the background when it came to the moral issues of the day, something he must have realized as a young Polish priest during the Nazi occupation 60-odd years ago. This is why I think he was absolutely the right person at the right time when he was a dark horse choice for Pope in 1978 (as a kid, I remember how shocked the media was that the Pope wasn't another elderly Italian). The relatively young and dynamic Pope was exactly what was needed to establish himself as not only a spiritual leader for just Roman Catholics, but a moral voice for the entire world. It was his open support for Solidarity that was the beginning of the end of Soviet communism. It was his efforts that have greatly improved relations between Catholics and Jews. He reached out to everyone and everybody, even attempting to put some salve on the millenia-year-old wounds between the Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was unafraid to challenge everyone's perceptions, regardless of one's social, economic, or political beliefs. And he was unwavering; in a world of wishy-washyness, that's something to be admired even if you didn't agree with him. He carried on as long as he could, even as his health was failing him. It isn't to say everything was perfect under his watch; there's still work to be done within and outside of the Church. But with him gone, there is a void in the Christian world. But whomever is chosen, I pray that he too will be the right person for the right time.
