austraLasia 1098
"Yes, Mario, I am you father too". Tribute to JP
II
2nd April 2005 -- [As all men and women of goodwill, but
especially Catholics, and we as DOn Bosco's family, prepare for the
imminent return to the Father's Home of our Holy Father John Paul II, Fr George
Plathottam from Guwahati Province has penned a masterly tribute. The full
text is available at www.bosconet.aust.com and many readers
may like to make use of it - George is happy for you to do so.]
"Pope's do not sing", the old priest was
categorical. But this Pope was a different kind of Pope. Singing was an
important part of John Paul's life. He once said 'song is a way of
bringing together, of communicating, of getting across language
barriers.
Perhaps no other Pope has had his white
cassock sleeve cuffs covered with lipstick at the end of an audience. Who
was this man, once Time Magazine's 'man of the year'? When elected Pope in 1978
the world knew little of him. By the end of his 26 year papacy his name
was a worldwide household name.
Born May 18 1920 as Karol (fondly called
Lolek by his mother), he grew up in a family deeply attached to one
another. He loved football, long walks, canoeing, skating and especially
skiing. He was brilliant but not a bookworm, according to a
companion.
His mother died when he was nine - a few
years later his older brother. Then the Nazi occupation. In 1941 his
father died, leaving him the sole family member. He was nearly crushed to
death by a German military truck. Karol learned to cope with suffering. "At 20 I
had already lost all the people I loved", he once said.
But not the love of God. At 21, instead of
following a career in acting or in Polish literature and philology, he began
studying for the priesthood. In 1946 'Wujek' (little Uncle) as his young
friends called him became a priest - and one especially for the young. As
a preacher he was simple and much appreciated. His message was a life
rooted in prayer and the values of the Gospel. By 1958 he was a
bishop...then a cardinal...then....
As Pope JPII has made history in many
ways. And the world has witnessed the quality of his human warmth.
He was a master of crowds and his style has been distinct. "But behind the
forceful public personality was a quiet reflective man, a man of
prayer".
The warmth and joy of John Paul was best
manifested when he was with the young. "I was formed by my work with young
people" he said on his first visit to Poland as Pope. Amongst them he was
a burly, benevolent, smiling, waving figure, never losing his authority,
switching from laughter to prayer.
"But if it is true that you are my father,
I would feel less alone. Is it true that you are my father?" asked
Mario. With his hand, the Pope wiped away the tears on the boy's cheeks,
caressed him and kissed him and said "Yes, Mario, I am your father
too."
_________________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian
Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based
in Rome. Try also www.bosconet.aust.com and Lexisdb
