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| Sunday, 1 May 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
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The people's Pope
Many people consider witnessing the funeral of Pope John Paul II, who was the third longest-serving pontiff in history, as a once in a lifetime experience. Karol J. Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his October 1978 election
to the Papacy, was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometres from
Cracow, Poland on May 18, 1920. He was the second of two sons born to
Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. His mother died in 1929. His eldest
brother Edmund, a doctor, died in 1932 Following his graduation, he enrolled in Cracow's Jagiellonian University in 1938 and in a school for drama. The Nazi occupation forces closed the university in 1939 and young Karol had to work in a quarry (1940-1944) and then in the Solvay chemical factory to earn his living and avoid being deported to Germany.In 1942, aware of his call to priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine (secretive) seminary of Cracow. After the Second World War, he continued his studies in the major seminary of Cracow, and in the faculty of theology of the Jagiellonian University, until his ordination as a priest in Cracow on November 1, 1946. Soon after, he was sent to Rome where he worked under the guidance of the French Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange. In 1948 he returned to Poland and was vicar of various parishes in Cracow as well as chaplain for the university students until 1951, when he took up his studies on philosophy and theology. On July 4, 1958, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cracow by Pope Pius XII, and was consecrated (dedicated to the service of God) on September 28, 1958, in Wawel Cathedral, Cracow, by Archbishop Baziak. On January 13, 1964, he was nominated Archbishop of Cracow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a cardinal on June 26, 1967. After starting his Pontificate on October 16, 1978, Pope John Paul II completed 95 pastoral visits outside Italy and 142 within Italy. As Bishop of Rome, he visited 301 of the 334 parishes. No other Pope has encountered so many individuals like John Paul II: more than 16,700,000 pilgrims have participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays. He also met numerous government personalities during 38 official visits and in the 690 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and the 226 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.The Pope died on April 2, 2005 in Vatican, surrounded by his closest Polish aides. ********** Benedict XVI :The new Pope
Ratzinger was once the Archbishop of Munich, Germany and for many years was the prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. He was one of the most powerful figures in the Vatican, widely accepted as a leading theologian. He was also the Theological Advisor to late Pope John Paul II for 20 years. He was elevated to the status of Cardinal by Pope Paul VI in June 1977 and has been the Dean of the Cardinals since November 2002. The Papacy The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. In addition to this spiritual role, the Pope is also head of the independent, sovereign State of the Vatican City, which is entirely surrounded by the city of Rome. The Pope's governance of the Catholic Church is termed as his Papacy. You often hear the Pope called by many other names,including Papa, Vicar of Christ, Holy Father, and Bishop of Rome. As head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope is the supreme spiritual leader of the Church and controls the church doctrine. With a billion followers, the Pope's decisions impact societies and governments all over the world. A pope is considered to be carrying on the power that Christ granted Peter. Today, a great amount of the pope's powers are derived from the Petrine guarantee, which is etched in Latin around the perimeter of the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral. The pope's powers were bolstered in the first Vatican Council in 1870, when 433 bishops passed the decree of papal infallibility. This decree declared that the pope was infallible (unfailing) in matters of faith and morality. According to the decree, the pope "is possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer wished His Church to be endowed". ************** The very first Pope
Have you heard of the very first Pope? Simon, later named as Peter, is considered to be the first Pope. When Jesus Christ was crucified on Good Friday, his enemies believed that the service carried out by Him will also come to an end. But His disciples made it become a worldwide movement and the chief among them was Simon. Simon was a fisherman. Villagers called him 'big fisherman' because of his appearance and especially because of his leadership qualities. When Jesus Christ asked Simon to follow Him, Simon forsook all to obey Jesus. According to the Bible, Jesus told Simon, "And I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock, I will build my church and the powers of death shall not prevail against it". Peter travelled with Jesus as He preached and healed the sick. Following the arrest of Jesus by Jewish religious leaders, all the disciples fled in terror. But Peter waited in the courtroom for the judgement and according to the Bible he has three times denied knowing Jesus. However, when he realised what he had done, Peter ran out and wept bitterly. He stayed in that state of despair, in his own hell of shame and grief throughout the day of the crucifixion of Jesus and the days following. After three days, Peter joined the other disciples hiding in an upper room and Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst in that closed room. Jesus then announced that He has chosen Peter to lead His followers. Strengthened by the spirit of Jesus, Peter began at first to shepherd the believers in Jerusalem. He then proceeded to Asia Minor and finally went to Rome, to minister to the persecuted (harrased) believers of Jesus hiding in the catacombs (underground chambers) of Rome. He was arrested by Nero and crucified upside down. It is believed that the Church of St.Peter in Rome rises over the grave of Peter. The Pope as the official successor of Peter now shepherds the millions of Roman Catholics over the world. |
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Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (78) was elected as the 265th Pope of the
Catholic Church by the 115 Cardinals who met at the Vatican's Sistine
Chapel, on April 19, following the death of Pope John Paul II, on April
02. The new Pope, the eighth from Germany, will be known as Benedict XVI.
