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Pope's spiritual legacy and love for the poor lives on |
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 by: Fr. Shay Cullen
The Pope is dead. For 26 long years this extraordinary man has guided the church with compassion and discipline, everywhere world leaders acknowledged his outstanding contribution to the advancement of justice and peace, racial harmony and unprecedented international reconciliation with the Jewish community.
Pope John Paul II will be best remembered for taking strong stands on vital
issues of morality, social justice and the right to life. He is the Pope who is
a national hero in Poland, the land of his birth, because he challenged the
oppressive and stifling rule of communism and he demanded freedom of religion,
thought and speech and spoke on behalf of the victims of torture and oppression.
He had a clear and unrelenting position against the war in Iraq and urged world
leaders to act against genocide everywhere and he supported the International
Criminal Court.
Without aggressive rhetoric, threats or invading armies he won freedom for
millions of people in his native Poland and throughout the entire Eastern Block.
His words and actions paved the way for the fall of communism. This was most
visibly seen with his support for “Solidarity”, the non-violent Polish freedom
movement of workers and civil society and even more striking was the eventual
fall of the Berlin Wall. John Paul II was a man who made history as few popes
have ever done.
Throughout the world he is remembered as the pilgrim Pope, he was the good
shepherd who visited his flock in far-flung lands, kissed the ground in respect
and humility. He was a man with a mission and that was to spread the love and
salvation brought into the world by Jesus Christ. He modeled his life on Him and
in the end refused to stop his work when advised to retire, “Did Jesus get down
from the cross?” he asked only a few weeks ago when he could still communicate.
He was the hero of the poor for his direct speaking out against the oppressive
dictatorships and oppressors of the poor. He may have been a harsh critic of
communism but he was even more outspoken against liberal capitalism a worse
ideology driven by insatiable greed and the lust for power and economic and
political empire building at the expense of the world’s poor.
John Paul II made it clear that it was a direct cause of widespread hunger and
poverty and brings suffering wherever it runs unchecked. He was no one sided
political pontiff, his heart was for the people not for those who ruled them.
His visit to the Philippines in 1981 was perhaps the most striking example of
his human touch and genuine concern to empower the downtrodden and stop
dictators in their tracks.
I had the privilege of being assigned by a catholic news agency as a traveling
photojournalist with Pope John Paul II during that historic visit in 1981.
During the visit to Tondo, one of the poorest districts of Manila, a small stage
had been erected and roped off from the pressing crowds.
I declined to ride in the press bus that morning because of the mounting traffic
and walked most of the way. I arrived early before the dignitaries. I learned
later that they were ordered to wait until the gate crashing Imelda Marcos
arrived with pomp and ceremony on the scene where she was not invited. As usual
she was late too.
Pope John Paul had his own schedule and to my shock he arrived on time
practically alone with his own photographer, the papal nuncio and a few
assistants. There was no pomp and ceremony because no official had arrived. Here
was a very ordinary happy smiling pastor who was delighted to be close to the
people as he reached out to the children and blessed the crowds as he walked to
the stage where I was standing alone off the side embarrassed at this unexpected
turn of events.
He just stood there patiently waiting for some officials to arrive before
reading his prepared speech. I was just standing there beside him within ten
feet. I was amazed at just how simple a man he was. Who had ever seen a Pope on
a street corner in the poorest part of town?
In the past the Popes never left the Vatican except sitting on a raised throne
wearing a triple crown like earthly king. Not John Paul. He changed so much in
his 26 years as leader of the Catholic Church. Coming down to the level of the
poor was his way and that is why we were there is such simple surroundings
standing side by side.
I could hardly believe it as I respectfully and discreetly took some unique
photos of a kindly gesturing pastor waving gently to the cheering crowds. There
was a sudden commotion as police sirens heralded the arrival of the government
dignitaries all of them in a panic, blushing with shame-late. I looked at Pope
john Paul, he was calm collected and looked amused at the spectacle. I looked at
him and he retuned the look with a smile of understanding that was resigned at
the unpleasant necessity of greeting distasteful politicians.
I was overwhelmed. Imelda and the main press never made it to Tondo. Some media
arrived after John Paul II had given his strongly worded speech calling for the
dignity of the poor to be acknowledged by politicians as Jesus had walked with
them and promised them the Kingdom. They deserved their social and economic
rights, as was their due he said and their rights had to be respected. It was a
moment of my life could never be forgotten. Nor will Pope john Paul be
forgotten. His spiritual legacy will live on for many more years.
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Posted on Wednesday, May 04 @ 14:23:44 CDT by don |
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