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Post by Jaga on Apr 27, 2014 12:49:02 GMT -7
Our church is Idaho Falls celebrated it especially since we had a name of John Paul II. I was really proud!
John Paul II papacy will be remember since he influenced and helped to break Soviet grip, gave Poles a courage to fight against Soviet empire, travelled around the world making church to be more open, he kissed the earth any. Before the popes did not leave Vatican that often. He also had a special relationship with young people. At the end of his life, he experienced and shared suffering, since he barely could talk. He was also kept in the cage (papemobile) after the assassination attempt.
The pope did a lot of good, he did not break Vatican bureaucracy, he did not liberalize the church, but he made it more approachable and loving.
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Post by Jaga on Apr 27, 2014 12:55:12 GMT -7
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Post by pieter on Apr 27, 2014 14:56:25 GMT -7
Dear Jaga, 26 1/2 years he was the Pope and made connections to millions in the world. He was the pope which connected the youth to the church and faith again, he reached out to other faiths. And he had a long important role in the Polish church before he became pope. He was one of the few popes that wasn't elected as a very old man and died shortly after he was chosen. I think that one of the most important things he did was that he reached out and connected to judaism and Islam. And maybe more important he reached out to other christians. He made contact with Orthodox-chistianity and to the Protestant churches.  Pope John Paul II. Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau. Kadi Taisir Tamimi. Notre Dame, Jerusalem March 2000 Pope John Paul II visits Rome's Jewish community in the Rome Synagogue in the first visit ever made by a Roman Catholic pontiff to a Jewish house of worship April 13, 1986. Ofcourse he was a source of pride, connection and liberation for the Polish people, because he brought them hope, change and a better future. He fought communism, but was also critical towards capitalism and the hollow materialism of the West. John Paul II was an enthusiastic supporter of European integration; in particular, he supported his native Poland's entry into the bloc. On 19 May 2003, three weeks before a referendum was held in Poland on EU membership, the Polish pope addressed his compatriots and urged them to vote for Poland's EU membership at St. Peter's Square in Rome. While some conservative, Catholic politicians in Poland opposed EU membership, John Paul II said: " I know that there are many in opposition to integration. I appreciate their concern about maintaining the cultural and religious identity of our nation. However, I must emphasise that Poland has always been an important part of Europe. Europe needs Poland. The Church in Europe needs the Poles' testimony of faith. Poland needs Europe." The Polish pope compared Poland's entry into the EU to the Union of Lublin, which was signed in 1564 and united the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania into one nation and created an elective monarchy. John Paul II has been credited with being instrumental in bringing down Communism in Central and Eastern Europe, by being the spiritual inspiration behind its downfall and catalyst for " a peaceful revolution" in Poland. Lech Wałęsa, the founder of ' Solidarity', credited John Paul II with giving Poles the courage to demand change. According to Wałęsa, " Before his pontificate, the world was divided into blocs. Nobody knew how to get rid of Communism. In Warsaw, in 1979, he simply said: 'Do not be afraid', and later prayed: 'Let your Spirit descend and change the image of the land... this land'."  John Paul II during his first Poland visit as pope in 1979 W 1979 r. na Placu Zwycięstwa w Warszawie, papież wypowiedział słowa, które zapamiętał cały świat: I pielgrzymka do Polski Jana Pawła IICheers, Pieter |
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Post by Jaga on May 28, 2014 7:26:37 GMT -7
Pieter,
thanks for posting information about our Polish pope. Our parish in Idaho Falls carries the name of St. John Paul II. It is so nice to see his face in the church. Makes me feel like in Poland. Lets hope that the Youth Day in Poland will be successful. I do not know why, but I barely remember the one over 20 years ago.
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