The Pontiff of Hearts Remembering St. John Paul II
Dr. Beena Manoj
Never has the world focused on one man with so much love, and never has such intense prayer ascended to the heavens from all quarters of the earth as during the last hours of Pope John Paul II’s sojourn on earth and the days that followed. As I surfed the television channels, soaking in every detail of this incomparable personality, the beauty of his life, and the emotion that gripped the nations, one image struck me most powerfully. The scene was St. Peter’s square. The camera bore down on a young man amidst the throng – some of them crying, grieving, some praying, reflecting, some numbly waiting, some even quietly celebrating… Asked to share his thoughts, the man, eyes glinting with unshed tears said in a hoarse, choked voice, “I feel like an orphan!” And I thought to myself how many young men and women across the world shared the same sentiment – the grief of losing a father. For that was what Pope John Paul II was to youth – a father in the truest sense of the word. Such was his love for, his faith and trust in young people, and the hope they inspired in him for the life of the Church and the world.
With the Holy Father, young people never experienced the so called ‘generation gap’. He understood them well; in fact he was one with them – sharing their pain and tears, knowing their doubts and fears, believing in their dreams and plans, and always, always giving them “a hope and a future”. To this ‘Pope of the Youth’, young people were important – a measure of the man. He never missed an opportunity to reach out to them, especially those who could not reach out to him. Many a time, as witnessed during the World Youth Days, he would break the schedule and go out to meet them. Young people in their turn saw in him someone who loved them, someone who understood them, and they responded generously, enthusiastically, taking up his challenges, motivated to make an offering of their very lives.
I was in Std. IX when Pope John Paul II assumed his office, so he’s the Pope I’ve known for most of my life. As I grew in years and in faith, my love for Jesus, for the Church and for the Pope also became stronger. I never ever imagined though, that I’d one day get to stand in the heart of Rome or encounter the Supreme Pontiff in person! However, in 1998 I was blessed with the privilege of participating in the Asian Bishops’ Synod in Rome as the only lay woman from India. For me it was a veritable pilgrimage. The Synod days were intense occasions of communion and experience of the universal Church where I discovered its unity and diversity as all of us from different Asian countries and rites gathered around the Holy Father. There were many occasions when I got to meet the Holy Father and to speak with him, and receive his blessings and prayers. The encounters served to give me a deeper, richer perspective, and I returned transformed.
Every spoken word, every gesture, every smile of the Holy Father, and most of all his daily presence in the Synod hall for the duration of the Synod (a month) in spite of other engagements, was an inspiration. Even as ill health was taking its toll on him, he was alert and full of good cheer, his innately informal nature very evident. Wearing a sari made me conspicuous and once as he passed by, the Holy Father waved to me and called out, “India!” The Papal Mass at the commencement and close of the Synod were among the great moments that I particularly appreciated. One of the highlights was undoubtedly the dinner I had with nine others at the Pope’s table. He was like a father having a meal with his children, listening attentively to what each one had to say, encouraging our efforts, laughing at our jokes, smiling at our follies, commiserating with our pain… The Holy Father had our names listed on a paper by his plate, and he called us by name, asking us about our homes and our work. I mentioned that I had seen him when he visited Kerala in 1986, and pat came the question, “Which of the three places?” When I answered “Kottayam” (the venue of the beatification ceremony of Blessed Alphonsa and Blessed Chavara), he clapped his hands to his forehead and muttered, “Long, long ceremony!” It stuck me then, and still amazes me that such a widely travelled person could remember every place he had visited, and remember it so vividly. And when he spoke to a sister from China seated next to me, all his concern for the Church in China, for his children there came through, reinforcing this image of a concerned, loving father.
The theme of the Synod was – Jesus Christ and His Mission of Love and Service in Asia: “…that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). Looking back on the life of Pope John Paul II, it is obvious that this was actually the dominant strain in the music of his life – Life! Life in abundance! He constantly challenged young people everywhere to counter the ‘culture of death’ and usher in a ‘culture of life’; to build a ‘civilization of love’ by giving Jesus ‘pride of place’ in their lives. And for all those active in Youth Ministry, the Pope’s engagement with young men and women offers a lesson – Young people are not the Church of tomorrow; they are the Church of now.
Though traditional in his belief, Pope John Paul II was modern in his approach to people and problems. People today, especially the youth, live in a consumerist society where they are constantly troubled by false illusions and passing fads, and the lure of wealth. In this context, the great numbers of faithful of our times who have been canonized by His Holiness serve as wonderful models for us to emulate. As he saw it, “The Church needs saints. …and holy people alone can renew humanity.” As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of St John Paul II, let us pay a fitting tribute to the life and work of this holy man sent by God, by fearlessly rallying to his call to be “The saints of this millennium!”
Dr. Beena Manoj
Associate Professor
Department of English
St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous)
Ernakulam