Pope John Paul II - En Memoriam

Published: April 6th, 2005

Occasionally, a news event comes along which makes you stop for a moment, maybe to remember where you were when you heard it because it is something that feels significant. For me, Saturday night felt like one of those times. As I was making a cup of tea and listening to the radio, the news of the Pope’s death had a huge impact on me.

This in itself is somewhat confusing. I’m not a Catholic. There were many things that Pope John Paul II stood for that I disagreed with. Yet his death did impact me, as it has done millions all over the globe. For a while I needed to stop, I wrote a little in my journal and I prayed.

Karol Wojtyla, who became Pope John Paul II in 1978, has been one of the most influential world leaders in the last 25 years. God has used him to massive effect.

Almost immediately from his election as Pope, he visited Poland, giving hope to millions and sowing the seeds of "Solidarity", a trade union movement, which was to change Poland two years later and create the first cracks in the wall of communism that was to fall so dramatically a decade later. That’s not just my opinion but also that of Lech Walesa (the poet turned president of Poland) and Mikhail Gorbachev (the premier of the USSR at the time), the two prime movers in its incredible fall.

This was obviously in his genes, his nature. He had fought against the Nazi’s in occupied Poland during the war. Standing against oppression was just part of who he was. Visits to countries like El Salvador, and famously to several million Catholics in the Philippines led to massive changes in government months later. Pope John Paul gave hope to millions through their faith to the see change in the most oppressive of nations. There are probably a dozen nations that have changed completely in the last 25 years where John Paul II sowed roots of freedom through loving people and God. He was a bringer of freedom. He believed in the dignity of human beings, following from their dignity as children of God.

Kofi Annan said on the death of John Paul II ‘he was a tireless advocate of peace’. In his time of leadership John Paul II challenged capitalism, war, injustice and oppression. He spoke out clearly on a massive range of issues – trying to draw people to Jesus and challenging governments about the way he led. And he applied this to his own life too. He amazingly visited Mehmet Ali Agca in prison, the Turkish man who had shot him years earlier, to personally convey forgiveness.

Jeff Fountain of YWAM Europe put it brilliantly in a recent email saying ‘he embodied hope and a future for millions in spiritual, economic and political oppression.’ He will be missed.

And what does his death mean for us now? Personally I want to give thanks that his years of suffering have ended. He is with his Father now, all pain and illness and sorrow gone. Although our loss on earth is great, I am cheered by the knowledge that his suffering is over.
 

We need to pray with compassion for the millions of Catholics and those of other faiths who mourn his death. Their pain is heartfelt. Let's pray that Friday's funeral brings some healing to the pain many feel right now.

'We need to pray for wisdom for our brothers making those choices and for the future of this most amazing and exciting branch of the worldwide church.'
 
 
I believe we also need to pray for the Catholic Church. In the coming days Cardinals will meet to choose a new Pope. As with any election of a leader their choice is crucial. But here the Catholic Church stands in a place of huge opportunity. We need to pray for wisdom for our brothers making those choices and for the future of this most amazing and exciting branch of the worldwide church.

Over the past few years of working with 24-7 I have had the privilege of meeting and spending time with many wonderful Catholic Christians. God is on the move within the Catholic Church – of this I have no doubt. We in 24-7 also owe them much. One Catholic Priest I met, on looking at our prayer room with candles, Stations of the Cross, labyrinth and icons on the walls, made the comment that it ‘was like looking at all his furniture re-arranged in someone else’s house.’

The Catholic Church has given and continues to give us much. Lets pray for them at this crucial time and give thanks for one of the most influential Popes to have taken that office.
 
This opinion piece was written by Andy Freeman , Reading and International Boiler Rooms "Abbot"

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