Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Pope thanks Poland, Bergamo for gift of two great saints

Pope thanks Poland, Bergamo for gift of two great saints

Last updated on: April 25, 2014 at 1:31 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope thanks Poland, Bergamo for gift of two great saints 2014-04-25T13:31:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Apr 25, 2014 / 07:31 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In messages to both residents of Poland and Bergamo, Pope Francis conveyed his gratitude for Bl. John Paul II and John XXIII, saying that their holiness continues to inspire the Church today.

“I thank the Polish people and the Church in Poland for the gift of John Paul II,” the Pope said in a video clip addressed to the Church in Poland, adding that “all of us have been enriched by this gift.”

Aired Thursday evening, the pontiff's message was shown on Polish Televesion and Radio, and was sent alongside a letter.

In his opening words to the Polish people, Pope Francis relayed his joy in being able to canonize the two pontiffs this Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday.

“I am grateful to John Paul II, as all the members of the people of God, for his untiring service, his spiritual guidance, and for his extraordinary testimony of holiness.”

“What John Paul II asked all, which is not to be afraid and to open wide the doors to Christ,” he observed, “he did it first,” explaining that “He has opened society, culture, political and economic systems to Christ.”

He reversed “with the strength of a giant – strength that came from God – a tendency that might have seemed irreversible,” the pontiff said. He noted that with his “testimony of faith, of love and apostolic courage, accompanied by a great human charisma,” John Paul II taught the world not to be afraid of being called Christians.

The Bishop of Rome then drew special attention to how before “traveling the streets of the world” the Polish Pope grew in his service to God in Poland, where his heart was formed; a heart that then expanded to a universal dimension.

“John Paul II,” he said, “has done everything for everyone.”

Again thanking Poland for the gift of Bl. John Paul II, Pope Francis emphasized that he continues to inspire the Church today and that “We are inspired by his words, his writings, his gestures, his style of service.”

“He inspires us by his suffering lived with a heroic hope. He inspires us with his total trust in Christ, Redeemer of man, and in the Mother of God.”

Concluding his message, the pontiff made known his anticipation of coming to Poland for the first time for World Youth Day in Krakow in 2016. He also thanked all of the journalists covering the canonization in print, radio and television, because through them many who are not in Rome “will be able to participate in this great event.”

In his message to the diocese of Bergamo, a region in Italy from where Bl. John XXIII hails, Pope Francis affirmed the people that he knows “how much you love Pope John, and how much he loved your land.”

“From the day of his election as pontiff, the name of Bergamo and Sotto il Monte became familiar to the whole world and even today, over 50 years later, they are associated with his smiling face and his paternal tenderness,” he observed.

Extending his invitation for the citizens of Bergamo to thank the Lord “for the great gift that his holiness has been for the universal Church,” the Pope also encouraged them “to cherish the memory of the land in which it germinated.”

“A land of profound faith lived in daily life, of poor families but united in love of the Lord, of a community capable of sharing in simplicity.”

Speaking of the Blessed's calling of the Second Vatican Council in order to address a pastoral response to the presence of the Church in the modern world, the Roman Pontiff explained that “the renewal desired from the Second Vatican Council has opened the road.”

It is “a special joy that the canonization of Pope Roncalli takes place together with that of Bl. John Paul II,” the Pope continued, adding that “this renewal has brought forward in his long pontificate.”

Going on, the Bishop of Rome expressed that his certainty “that civil society will always be able to find inspiration in the life of the Pope of Bergamo and of the atmosphere he generated, seeking new ways and adapting to the times in order to build a life based on the perennial values of fraternity and solidarity.”

Bringing his message to a close, Pope Francis asked all of Bergamo to pray for him, and assured them of his own “remembrance and prayers,” particularly for “the suffering” and “for the sick.”

“I send to all of you, during the immense feast of Easter, the Apostolic Blessing.”

Vatican

Previous Post

April 25, 2014

Profound spiritual life of John XXIII credited for Vatican II

Next Post

April 25, 2014 Woman healed by John Paul II's intercession recounts miracle

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Esther became queen through a beauty contest.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE