Pope John Paul gives witness to the sacredness of life 
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By: Father Shay Cullen
During the dark days of the tyrannical Marcos regime, the butchered bodies of the executed freedom fighters, parish workers, priests and ministers of all faiths were evidence that they had the most horrible sufferings and death for justice and freedom. Their courage and bravery in the face of torture and tyranny inspired the nation and when this was recognised and honoured by John Paul II during his historical first visit to the Philippines, I was deeply moved. The memory of him in Bacolod taking a stand for justice identifying with the poor and suffering etched my spirit.
I was assigned by a Catholic News Agency to accompany his trip around the Philippines to report and photograph his missionary journey and stood close to him for most of the journey from Baguio to Bacolod. He was strong, charismatic and an inspiring figure that preached that social justice was the heart of the gospel. In Bacolod, he unmistakably rejected and repudiated the claims of the ruling elite that their might was right and that by virtue of it they could inherit the earth or at least the Philippines.
Looking at him now struggling from his sick bed to the hospital window weak and feeble, yet showing the same determination and courage that I had seen close up. There again as he blessed those who had gathered to pray for him I saw his indomitable spirit. He is a living witness to the value of human life and an inspiration to the sick with whom he identifies so closely in his own suffering. He gives them greater self-esteem and courage to live out their lives to the fullest and never to give in to despair.
Pope John Paul II is never going to resign while he has breath, a pen and paper at hand. He understands his mission as a living witness to Christ who in his weakest moments, in the depths of false accusations, excruciating torture and a horrible execution as a criminal never gave up. In his passion He was at his most spiritually powerful and showed us the greatest love is to suffer and die to save others.
I have no doubt that is how our Pope understands his mission now. His suffering and determination to complete his mission and imitate Christ. He never resigned his mission. He could have walked away from the Garden of Gethsemane but he chose to stay. Pope John Paul II has chosen to stay and witness through suffering and hardship.
He sees his role as that of a spiritual leader and Father of the Church, not as an administrator of a worldwide organisation. As a father, he cannot resign and leave his family. So long as he has the living strength to give witness to the value of life no matter how weak, frail and apparently useless it seems he will give testimony.
In an age where youth beauty are worshipped and age and frailty are scored and euthanasia is the proposed solution for the sick Pope John Paul II is giving a powerful message about the sacredness of life.
His struggle tells us that no matter how frail or sick we may be we will always have dignity and value as members of God's family and have valuable contributions to make.
There are those who argue that in the best interests of the church, wracked by so many problems in a world at war and caught in the grip, the greatest divider between rich and poor, that young energetic leadership is now needed.
True indeed as that may be there is the danger that his resignation could divide the church between those faithfully following his more conservative theological views and those advocating a more progressive socially active Christianity in the Church.
This would of course be a sad and pain filled period for the church and what Pope John Paul abhors -division strife and discord. So no matter what happens he would never want himself to be a sign of division. Nor want anyone to deviate from the essence of our faith and that is following the example, word and deeds of Jesus Christ himself. Great as the example of John Paul is, modeled on Christ, our faith is rooted in our personal belief and relationship with Jesus Christ as our saviour, friend and hope of eternity. (End)
