On the occasion of the dead of the Pope, His Holiness John Paul II
Dear all,
In the media, I've seen a lot of speculations about who the next Pope might be, but little about the Late Pope John Paul II's Contributions. so I decided to be the one to say something as far as his contributions go, at least on the Field of Human rights specifically.
As a person, who has studied other religions in depth, who respects other religions and who truly understands the scope of and the role of religion in the world, I think his life is relevant, not just of interest. I feel that his many contributions to the world are, more noteworthy than the politics of the Catholic Church.
I thought that possibly most people know little about the man and since he has just passed away, and since his influence over the whole world (not just the Catholic world) was so great, I thought I should mention a few things. First the fact that he granted an audience to an interfaith summit. He was the first Pope to ever to grant audiences or even recognize interfaith organizations.
What was striking to me, was the way this man accomplished a peaceful revolution within the Church, His ideas were radical ones and condemned as heresy just months before his articulation of them, but after that, even when there was bitter opposition in some quarters, he prevailed and the Church really did become unified by him.
Many have noticed the dwindling trend of Church Membership, and loudly presented it in the media, but that is true of almost all other religions, except the newest ones. And I truly believe that without him, the Catholic Church might have dwindled to half of what it is now.
I know that while I've had disagreements here and there with Church Policies, in Latin America, I could observe the fact that it was the influence of the Church that kept it from turning into the hell some have been trying to make it, and they have tried very hard. It was only when Religion in general and thus the Catholic Church were weakened that the place turned into a Bloody Mess. Quite literally.
His keen notion of the dignity of humankind and his respect and strong advocacy for human rights and peace, was astonishing to me, considering the history of previous Popes. He Stressed that the Bible and services be changed and made understandable by the common people. He canceled over a hundred "Heresies" and forbade killing in the name of the Church categorically.
Later I learned that this man had been ordained as a young man in Poland, while the Communist rule tried to stamp out religion. Feeling in the flesh, the burn of violations to what he calls "the basic dignity of man", In his own words...
He fought for the freedoms of all Polish peoples and not just Catholics. He celebrated mass in the open (it was forbidden then to congregate in Public) and generally did a lot of defiant things, that were statements of freedom and basic human rights. And that inspired many in Poland. Having personally felt the abuses and the horrors of oppression, he became adamant about Human Rights. This to the point of speaking in favor of Jewish and Muslims as well as other religions, when other regimes perpetrated abuses on them.
It is well known that there was an attempt on his life, what might not be so well known is that he visited his aggressor, confronted him and forgave him, not in the name of God, but as a man.
His philosophical legacy is immeasurable, but that only caught my attention. His conviction, his fascination with the spiritual nature of man and his constant reach for others won my heart.
He was the only Pope in History to recognize the validity of other religions, intercede for and encourage interfaith activities. Among those he openly admired were Siddharta Gautama - The Buddha, Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King.
It is difficult to compare him to any other religious leader, much less attempt to qualify who was better or worse than him. This man viewed things differently- he prayed with members of other religions for unity, he declared that though the Catholic Church considers itself, God's one true Church, and stood by that belief. The Catholic Church would henceforth recognize other religions, respect them and aid them as needed. He abolished the status of heresy for hundreds of practices, which would previously condemn as heretics, those who simply exercised their freedom of conscience or of expression, etc. This man changed the Catholic Church for the better, literally revolutionizing it, by winning peoples hearts and not by separation or dogma, but by really reaching out to people and really understanding others.
Yes - I disagreed with some of his views, but I continue to hold him in very high esteem. But beyond our philosophical differences, I can tell you that this man brought so much good to the world, that the very least I can do is bid him farewell.
His death has left a kind of void in my heart, one I never expected, I have attempted to write a farewell, but can't contain the tears. I'm not sad, but moved as I remember the many things that brought me to understand him as a being, and admire him so. I believe this man was a true example of a true leader, and a very social personality.
Consider what I consider his most incisive statement on his position on Human Rights in general. This statement can be found following this link:
http://www.cin.org/jp2/newyear99.html
Farewell Your Holiness, may the hereafter be the brightest for you and may humanity retain the wisdom you imparted to it.
Dharma
