John Paul II For Dummies, Special Edition

John Trigilio, Kenneth Brighenti, Jonathan Toborowsky

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781118895474
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Teologia e religione
• Subtopic: Storia delle religioni

Find out how two extraordinary leaders changed religion and the world

In April 2014, Pope Francis will jointly canonize two predecessors, John Paul II and John XXIII, in a move that recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of these leaders of the Catholic faith. An estimated 1 million people filled St. Peter's Square and the surrounding streets for John Paul II's beatification, and the joint canonization will attract even more. With John Paul II For Dummies, Special Edition you can learn more about these admired religious leaders and join millions of devotees in celebrating their lives and legacies. You'll get an in-depth look at John Paul II's remarkable life and achievements and learn more about the beloved John XXIII in a bonus chapter.

With this special edition e-book written in friendly, plain English, you'll discover how John Paul II's deep religious convictions affected world politics, history, and the Catholic faith. You'll be introduced to his influences, his personal struggles, the way he impacted the Church, and his methods for spreading his powerful message. Catholics and non-Catholics alike will find the stories of these holy men fascinating and inspiring.

• Introduces you to the lives and legacies of both John Paul II and John XXIII
• Presents you with the struggles, influences, and approaches to world politics of John Paul II, whose actions had a great impact on history
• Includes a bonus chapter that details the life of John XXIII, who will be canonized along with John Paul II in April 2014
• Written in an engaging, accessible style and a great read for Catholics and non-Catholics alike

John Paul II For Dummies, Special Edition is your guide to discovering the exemplary lives of two rare and extraordinary men who have influenced generations of people all over the world.

Part I

Getting to Know John Paul II

In this part…

We look at the personal history, background, landscape, and major influences that shaped and formed the early life of Pope John Paul II. Besides his fascinating story of where, when, and how he grew up into the man called Karol Wojtyła, we also examine the cultural, historical, intellectual, and spiritual forces that contributed to his formation. This will give a glimpse into the person — the human being, the world would later know as John Paul II.

Chapter 1

John Paul II: A Man for All Seasons

In This Chapter

Seeing how he plotted his own course

Reading his writings

Understanding his philosophy and theology

Knowing where he stood

Taking a look at everything he accomplished

Robert Bolt’s play titled A Man for All Seasons (1960) was about the life of Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England, who remained completely faithful to his God, his church, and his conscience even to the point of death. Although fidelity is easy when things are going well, maintaining and persevering in one’s faith in times of trial and tribulation is not an easy task. Thomas More was called a “man for all seasons” because he didn’t allow public opinion or political pressure to infect his soul.

Karol Wojtyła, who became Pope John Paul II, can also be called a “man for all seasons,” because he did not allow anything to weaken his faith. Neither the German Nazis who invaded his homeland during World War II nor the Soviet Russians who occupied Poland throughout the Cold War could discourage this man’s convictions and commitment to his religion. Despite a would-be assassin’s bullets and Parkinson’s disease, JP2 never succumbed to discouragement.

Both Thomas More (1478–1535) and John Paul II were poets, philosophers, and men of many talents. They were truly spiritual men who loved their countries but loved their God even more than their own lives. Like More, JP2 was a man of conscience and a Renaissance man (someone who has a broad education and has some proficiency in the arts, humanities, and sciences).

At the movies

One of Pope John Paul II’s favorite movies in English (according to anonymous sources) was the screen adaptation of Bolt’s play A Man For All Seasons (1966), starring Paul Scofield as Sir Thomas More, Robert Shaw as King Henry VIII, and the famous Orson Welles as Cardinal Wolsey. The Academy Award–winning movie was later resurrected in a 1988 version with Charlton Heston as More and Sir John Gielgud as Wolsey. Ironically, Vanessa Redgrave was in both movies; she played Anne Boleyn (Henry VIII’s second wife and mother of Elizabeth I) in the first film and played Lady Alice, Sir Thomas More’s wife, in the remake.

In this chapter, you discover how Pope John Paul II was a true pioneer in the sense that he went into uncharted waters and territory. We show you how he made an impact on the world itself, how he left an indelible mark on the Catholic Church, how he injected his own style and flavor into the papacy, and how he brought his Polish culture and personal faith into his public role as leader of the world’s largest religion. Groundbreaker, innovator, defender, protector, shepherd, and pastor — these are but a few of the hats Pope John Paul II wore.

Being a Groundbreaker

John Paul II came from an ancient land steeped in tradition, was raised in a 2,000-year-old religion, and would become the visible defender of traditional morality and orthodox doctrine. At the same time, JP2 was innovative, not in content but in presentation. He showed his followers how the Church and especially the papacy could — and should — adapt to the modern world.

JP2 broke the stereotype of popes being elderly Italian church bureaucrats. Unlike some of his predecessors, he was elected at the young age of 58; was the first non-Italian pope since the 16th century; and traveled more than any other pope in history. He had the third longest reigning papacy (after St. Peter and Blessed Pius IX). The non-Catholic world, however, will remember John Paul II for his groundbreaking efforts to open dialogue with members and leaders of other faiths and religions. His gestures to heal wounds between Christians and Jews and between Catholics and Protestants were sincere and profound — if not totally successful.

The first Polish pope — and the first non-Italian in 455 years

The first mold John Paul II broke was the origin of the popes. JP2 was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. The last non-Italian was Cardinal Adrian Florensz Boeyens, a Dutchman, elected Pope Adrian VI in 1522. From the time of St. Peter (the Jewish fisherman Jesus chose to head his church, whom Catholics consider the first pope) to Benedict XVI (the current pope, as of this writing), we’ve had 217 popes from Italy, 17 from France, 8 from Germany, 3 from Spain, and 1 each from Africa, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, Poland, and Palestine (present-day Israel).

Why the Italian monopoly? Believe it or not, no strong-arm tactics were involved here. The practical reason was that, until the era of John Paul II, the papacy was very much involved in local concerns involving the diocese of Rome, of which the pope is the bishop, and surrounding Italian dioceses of Italy. It made sense to elect a local, an Italian, who not only spoke the language but who knew the culture and the problems the local and national churches were experiencing.

These days, the popes no longer need to worry about national defense and other domestic issues that other world leaders have to contend with every day. The small 109 acres of land that make up the Vatican are merely a home, a place of pilgrimage, and a center of ecclesiastical administration.

Since the time of Pope Paul VI (1963–1978), who was the first pontiff to visit five continents (and was called the “pilgrim pope” until the arrival of John Paul II), the universal ministry of the office became more relevant. Instead of just handling the affairs of the diocese of Rome or the Catholic Church in Italy, the papacy in the latter half of the 20th century became much more global in its perspective.

With the College of Cardinals comprising representatives from almost every nation on Earth, the unofficial Italian “monopoly” over the papacy ceased to exist. The year Pope John Paul II was elected (1978) was as good a time as any to elect a non-Italian, even if it hadn’t been done for 455 years.

The last pope of the 20th century — and the first pope of the 21st

John Paul II has the unique claim of being the last pope of the 20th century and the first pope of the 21st century; he reigned from 1978 to 2005. Because of the unique time in which he was pope, a time of numerous technological advances, Pope John Paul II was able to bring the Church and the papacy into the 21st century, embracing technology instead of shunning it.

The message would be the same: perennial teaching of Christ as found both in Sacred Scripture (the Bible) and Sacred Tradition and as taught for two millennia by the Catholic Church. The medium by which the message was delivered would utilize the best the contemporary world had to offer. Pope John Paul II used modern tools to bring time-honored values and principles to a new generation.

JP2 inaugurated the Vatican Web site on Easter (March 30) 1997, and was considered the first “high-tech pope.” Unlike previous popes who occasionally used modern media like radio and television, John Paul II was the first to capitalize on and utilize the full potential of high-tech communications. His weekly Wednesday audiences were broadcast by radio, television, satellite, short-wave radio, and Internet to all corners of the Earth.

Reaching out: Around the World, across religions, and to young people everywhere

John Paul II certainly broke the mold when he took the papacy on the road. Other popes had traveled, but none of his successors would cover as many miles, visit as many nations, and be seen and heard by as many people of every age, race, and background. Some old-time Vatican bureaucrats thought he traveled too much and should have stayed home more to “mind the store.” But in practice, Vatican City (as an independent country) and the Holy See (as the administrative center of the one-billion-member organization) virtually run by themselves in terms of the day-to-day business and work that has to be done. The pope does not micromanage every diocese or nation. For the most part, he lets the local bishop shepherd his own flock.

Pope John Paul II’s 104 pastoral trips to 129 countries around the globe were always media events, attracting reporters and journalists from every nation. He used the press to help communicate his message to the universal flock he was shepherding, even if those who covered him did not completely agree with him. He was the first pope to actually hold press conferences on airplanes during his worldwide travels.

JP2 was a true groundbreaker not only because he used modern media, but also because he was the first to make monumental advances in ecumenism (efforts to bring more unity and cooperation among all religions). As the first pope to visit a Jewish synagogue (in 1986) since St. Peter, he referred to all Jews as “our elder brothers.” John Paul II was also the first pope ever to visit an Islamic mosque (in Damascus in 2001) and was the first pope ever to preach in a Lutheran church (in 1983).

The third longest pontificate: 26 years, 5 months, 17 days

John Paul I had one of the ten shortest papacies (33 days), but his successor, John Paul II, had the third longest. St. Peter, considered the first pope, is thought to have served 37 years, from a.d. 30to approximately a.d. 67. This would have been, so far, the longest pontificate in history.

Blessed Pius IX (1846–1878) reigned 31 years, 7 months, and 23 days (or a total of 11,560 days, if you go in for the big numbers) and ranks number two in papal longevity. He was only 54 years old when he was elected pope, and he died at the age of 85.

John Paul II (1978–2005) ruled 26 years, 5 months, and 17 days (or a total of 9,665 days).

Four years older than Pius IX when he was elected, JP2 was an energetic and athletic 58-year-old when the cardinals chose him to be pope. Some even called him “God’s athlete” due to his love of hiking, swimming, and skiing. Many doctors and physicians have speculated that, had he not been shot in 1981 and had he not contracted Parkinson’s disease, this robust man could have surpassed the previous two and been the longest reigning pope in history, living well into his 90s or longer. Unfortunately, he was shot and he did get Parkinson’s, but the fact that he was able to survive both until he was a month and half away from his 85th birthday is still noteworthy.

Besides his efforts to communicate with the spiritual leaders of other religions and with the political leaders of other nations — whether capitalist, socialist, or communist — JP2 was also a groundbreaker in reaching out to the youth. He was the first pope to have World Youth Day, an annual event in which young people across the globe get together with the head of the Catholic Church. Since 1986, these events have brought together anywhere from 300,000 to more than 4 million young men and women at one place and time.

Author, Author

Most people know of John Paul II’s papal encyclicals (see Chapter 22) and letters. What a lot of people don’t know is that he authored many books:

• Sign of Contradiction (1979)
• Love and Responsibility (1960, Polish; 1980, English translation)
• The Way to Christ: Spiritual Exercises (1982)
• Crossing the Threshold of Hope (1994)
• Gift and Mystery: On the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination (1996)
• The Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan (1997)
• Pope John Paul II: In My Own Words (1998)
• Forgiveness: Thoughts for the New Millennium (1999)
• Get Up, Let Us Go (2004)
• Lessons for Living (2004)
• Memory and Identity: Conversations at the Dawn of a Millennium (2005)

JP2 is best known for being the first Polish pope, and then as a theologian and philosopher in his own right, before and during his papacy. He was also a poet and playwright. Like the several languages he spoke fluently, this man was also of several talents, interests, and abilities. During Nazi occupation and then under Communist control, freedom of thought was not encouraged and freedom of speech not tolerated. Plays and poetry were two ways that patriotic citizens maintained their heritage.

Playwright

Not only did John Paul II write books, he also wrote plays. Besides plays based on biblical characters like David, Job, and Jeremiah, he also wrote plays like Our God’s Brother, The Jeweler’s Shop, and The Radiation of Fatherhood: A Mystery, dealing with the universal themes of faith and practicing it in day-today life. The last two he wrote under the pseudonym of Andrzej Jawien to avoid being caught by KGB agents in Soviet-controlled Poland.

Since the time of the Nazi occupation during World War II and throughout the Soviet control of Poland during the Cold War, resistance to Fascism and Communism took expression in the arts, especially in plays, prose, and poetry. Authors tried to keep the flames of freedom burning in the hearts of their countrymen despite the occupation and oppression. A common safeguard to avoid arrest and possible torture was to use a pseudonym whenever writing such material.

The Jeweler’s Shop is a three-act play still available in English today. The setting is, as the title suggests, a jewelry shop, and the main characters are three couples who enter the store. Each couple has a different struggle, as well as a different understanding and experience of love, doubt, fear, disappointment, disillusion, and hope. The moral of the story is to not give up, which applies not just to married life, but also to religious and spiritual life and to an oppressed people whose country has been occupied or controlled by another nation.

Poet

John Paul II also wrote poetry. Through his poems, you get a glimpse into his heart and soul as a man and a human being. He wrote some poems during and after World War II, during his priesthood, during his episcopacy (the time spent in the government of the church as a bishop, archbishop, and a cardinal), and even during his pontificate. The poems show a tender, vulnerable, yet still very confident nature of the man who became the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church.

Here is a sample of his poetry from a poem he wrote in 1939 about his mother, Emilia, who had died tragically when Karol (John Paul’s name at birth and his baptismal name) was only 9 years old.

“Over This, Your White Grave”

Over this, your white grave
the flowers of life in white —
so many years without you —
how many have passed out of sight?
Over this your white grave
covered for years, there is a stir
in the air, something uplifting
and, like death, beyond comprehension.
Over this your white grave
oh, mother, can such loving cease?
for all his filial adoration
a prayer:
Give her eternal peace —

John Paul II had a very strong devotion to the Virgin Mary, which was probably based not only on his staunch Catholic upbringing, but also on his Polish heritage and his need to be...