Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - On Monday 2 April, at 12 noon, in the Basilica of St John Lateran there was the closing of the diocesan investigation on the life, virtues and fame of holiness of the Servant of God John Paul II, the first stage of the process of canonisation. Cardinal Vicar Camillo Ruini, President of the Diocesan Tribunal which examined material with regard to the figure and work of John Paul II, dwelt on some traits of the late Pope's spiritual figure. “At the beginning, the heart and the summit of this portrait - said Cardinal Ruini - there can only be Karol Wojtyła 's personal relationship with God: already in childhood a strong, intimate and profound relationship which then never ceased to develop and produce fruits in every dimension of his life… In the certainty of being loved by God and in the joy of corresponding to this love, Karol Wojtyła found the sense, unity and purpose of his life.”
Looking at the various aspects under which the late Pope's relationship with God was expressed, Card. Ruini said “first of all the authentic gift of the taste and the joy of prayer, which Karol Wojtyła had since he was a boy and to which he remained faithful in his dying moments”. Prayer which had two dimensions: a dimension of time dedicated exclusively to prayer and the extraordinary ease with which he combined prayer with work, “so that work was not only offered to God, it was penetrated, imbued with prayer… His prayer was inhabited by a host of people of every nation and condition who turned to him to obtain help from God, physical or spiritual health for their loved ones”. A second component was freedom, “an extraordinary interior freedom, expressed in various directions”, beginning with his attitude to material things: “he lived in poverty, spontaneously without effort, he seemed to have need of nothing, he was completely detached from money and material things”. He was also detached and free from self, he never sought his own success or realisation, and free with regard to others: “He was ready to listen to accept criticism, he sought collaboration of his co-workers but respected their freedom, although he was autonomous in making the final decision… dictated from no other concern than that for the Gospel and the good of humanity ”.
A man who loved God with the intensity of John Paul II could not fail to be an exemplary witness for others of fidelity. Since childhood “his life overflowed with this witness” said Cardinal Ruini: material assistance to the poor and the needy, profound concern for the sick, all forms of concern for the various difficulties of people. “His heart was truly given to the poor, the little ones and the suffering, and this explains the spiritual affinity he felt with Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Karol Wojtyła was animated with Christian love offering everything first of all to Jesus Christ, Bread of life and Redeemer of mankind.”
Pope John Paul II was a “spontaneous communicator” of the Gospel to all people, at all times, Cardinal Ruini said “He launched the great programme of ‘new evangelisation' and he was the first to dedicate himself personally to it with his continual missionary journeys. In particular he sought tirelessly to give new impulse to the Christian faith in Europe weighed down by secularism and from his heart there came that wonderful evangelising 'invention' World Youth Days a universal expression of his special love for young people.”
“Faith in Christ united with love and passion for mankind” drove John Paul II to take up the defence and promotion of the dignity and rights of individuals and peoples; to work strenuously for peace in the world and that religions would be channels of peace rather than intolerance and violence; to lead the great battle for human life and for the family, against abortion and any other forms of negation of life. “In all his activity as a Christian and a Bishop, love for the Church was an essential “inner” dimension of his relationship with God in Jesus Christ… his apostolic journeys and his visits to Rome's parishes were, inseparably, work of evangelisation and an act of love and service for the Church in the different parts of the world”. Cardinal Ruini recalled that “his dedication to the ecumenical cause, and the request for forgiveness for sins committed by the sons and daughters of the Church, expressed his will, meek but determined to become like Christ, to follow Him and to walk the 'way' who is Christ himself ”.
The last chapter of his earthly life was one of suffering, present in his life already when he was a boy. “The Pope suffered in body and in spirit, seeing himself increasingly obliged to reduce commitments connected with his mission... But he bore sickness and physical pain with great serenity and patience, with authentic Christian virility, continuing tenaciously to fulfil his duties as far as possible, without making the burden of his illness weigh on others … Truly Karol Wojtyła learned to make room for suffering and the cross not only from his own life but also, and more profoundly, from his own spirituality and the personal relationship interwoven with God ”.
At the end of his address Cardinal Ruini thanked those who with him had undertaken and completed such an 'enormous task' in such a short time. “However I would add that the task was both stimulating and exciting - the Cardinal concluded - , because from contact with Karol Wojtyła there emerged and there continues to emerge a flood of impulse to live the Gospel: in this sense I would say that our work in these twenty one months was easy, it had the ease of tasks which bring joy”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 3/4/2007 - righe 71, parole 1.025)
