Editorial

When this year's Nobel Prize for peace was announced, a great many people all over the world were disappointed that Pope John Paul II was not the chosen one. No doubt, the judging panel members have their own point of view. Nevertheless, as the Pope celebrates 25 years of his pontificate, and we think back over this past quarter of a century, we cannot but marvel at the great change that has taken place all over the Church and indeed the whole world and how much of his energy has been spent on promoting peace and understanding among all men and religions.

To reach his target, Pope John Paul has travelled the world, often facing dangers of different types. He has spoken, written and sung for peace and his thoughts, philosophy and poetry have enchanted readers the world over.

If no pope has ever travelled as much as he, written so much or declared so man saints, it is because he intentionally went out from the start in search of dialogue with the world and desired to intervene in this post-modern world of relativity with his studied documents that present the absolutes of God's laws and of His love from which everything stems.

In an interview with the press, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the German bishops' conference, said Pope John Paul has effected a reform in the Church over the past 25 years with his proclamation of the Gospel to the world.

The cardinal highlighted the Holy Father's role in the fall of the Iron Curtain. "The Pope doesn't like to speak about it, but it is clear that with his defence of human rights and denunciation of injustice he strengthened resistance against the Communist regimes," he said.

The cardinal had no hesitation in seeing the Pope as "a fighter for peace and human rights, and as an imperturbable witness of the Gospel throughout the world".

Whatever the subject, he has never feared to go against the grain. And though the Catholic Church may walk alone over many important values and beliefs, there are few who do not realise that the Pope stands for human dignity, freedom and justice.

But Pope John Paul is a pope of surprises. He dared to hope against hope in the days of the Iron Curtain, referring to the various tyrannies as collapsible like a pack of cards.

His old age and his steadily progressing and unforgivable illness have provided him with another opportunity for surprise. The Pope refuses to go away, to shut up, to wind down, or lie down and rest. Contrary to what most people feel, the Pope shows old age no longer precludes service and no amount of pain can silence the issue of wise words.

Not only does the Pope not try to hide his physical limitations before the cameras but he flaunts them so that the rest of the world may see them and take courage from him.

There is strength in those weak limbs, wisdom in that head barely held askew and holiness in those eyes that come to life from time to time before the cameras, as if to say: "If you only see what these eyes see".

Celebrations at the Vatican will culminate on Sunday with the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and will conclude next Tuesday with the consistory to elevate 31 new cardinals.

For Pope John Paul, who has twice visited us, it is always business as usual. The rest is up to the Master he serves.