Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Krakow (Agenzia Fides) - In the morning of Saturday 27 May Pope Benedict XVI visited Wadowice the home town of Pope John Paul II, going to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception where Karol Wojtyła was baptised, then to the house where the late Pope was born, which has been made into a museum. At 11am the Holy Father met the people of the town in Rynek Square. “I am filled with emotion in the birthplace of my great Predecessor, the Servant of God John Paul II, in this town of his childhood and young adult life. - said Benedict XVI - . Indeed, I could not leave out Wadowice as I make this pilgrimage in Poland following in his footsteps. I wished to stop precisely here, in the place where his faith began and matured, to pray together with all of you that he may soon be elevated to the glory of the altars.”
In particular the Pope recalled that when John Paul II spoke about his childhood he often dwelt on the sign of the baptismal font, “which he surrounded with special devotion”, “Here is the profound awareness of divine grace, the unconditional love of God for man, that by means of water and the Holy Spirit places the Catechumen among the multitude of his children, who are redeemed by the Blood of Christ. The way of an authentically Christian life equals faithfulness to the promises of holy Baptism. The watchword of this pilgrimage: "Stand firm in your faith", finds in this place its concrete dimension that can be expressed with the exhortation: "Stand firm in the observance of your baptismal promises”. John Paul Ii used to say that the Basilica of Wadowice, his parish church,, was “a particularly importance place in the development of his spiritual life and priestly vocation - said Benedict XVI - … His love for the Church was born in the parish of Wadowice. In it he experienced the sacramental life, evangelisation and the formation of a mature faith..” Last of all Benedict XVI recalled that the people of Wadowice are very devoted to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour: “In the spirit of this devotion, before this image I wish to give thanks to God for the Pontificate of John Paul II and, like him, I ask that Our Lady watch over the Church which by the will of God has been entrusted to me to guide..”
At the end of his visit to Wadowice, the Pope went to the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Kalwaria, dedicated to the Passion of Jesus and the Sorrowful Mother. Addressing the Franciscan community which looks after the Shrine and the faithful present the Pope said: “Following the example of John Paul II, I also turn to you, kindly asking that you pray for me and for all the Church.
I would also like to say, as has dear Cardinal Stanislaw, that I hope Divine Providence will soon concede the Beatification and Canonisation of our beloved Pope John Paul II”.
On his way back to Krakow the Pope stopped at the Shrine of Divine Mercy at Łagiewniki, where he prayed at the tomb of Saint Faustina Kowalska.
Inside the Basilica, the Pope addressed 800 sick people waiting to see him: “On this occasion we encounter two mysteries: the mystery of human suffering and the mystery of Divine Mercy. At first sight these two mysteries seem to be opposed to one another. But when we study them more deeply in the light of faith, we find that they are placed in reciprocal harmony through the mystery of the Cross of Christ… Dear friends who are sick, who are marked by suffering in body or soul, you are most closely united to the Cross of Christ, and at the same time, you are the most eloquent witnesses of God’s mercy.… Through you and through your suffering, he bows down towards humanity with love. You who say in silence: "Jesus, I trust in you" teach us that there is no faith more profound, no hope more alive and no love more ardent than the faith, hope and love of a person who in the midst of suffering places himself securely in God’s hands. May the human hands of those who care for you in the name of mercy be an extension of the open hands of God.”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 29/5/2006 - righe 45, parole 678)
