Pope's spiritual legacy and love of the poor lives on
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By: Father 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. (End)
