Reflections on Pope John Paul II

Beyond reasonable doubt, a great man, Pope John Paul II will leave his ineradicable mark in history. My first encounter with His Holiness was 25 years ago when, one year after he was called to Peter's seat, I had the privilege to spend six weeks in the Vatican with a number of Maltese altar boys. Over the past days I spent hours on end looking at the photographs from those times. Together with the news I was following on each TV channel, so many memories accompanied my tears.

To date I still regret not being able to serve John Paul II during the funeral Mass of a deceased cardinal during my stay at the Vatican. Of the entire Maltese group, it was two others and I who were not given such an opportunity and after such a long time this remains one of the regrets in life. I still recall the general audience we had with the Pope and I still feel his personal touch. His smile is still imprinted in my mind.

As I reflect upon Pope John Paul II, the famous art masterpiece of Rembrandt's Prodigal Son comes to mind. Henri Nouwen, in his thesis The Return Of The Prodigal Son, aptly states: "The father's left hand touching the son's shoulder is strong and muscular. The fingers are spread out and cover a large part of the prodigal son's shoulder and back. I can see a certain pressure, especially in the thumb. That hand seems not only to touch, but, with its strength, also to hold. Even though there is gentleness in the way the father's left hand touches his son, it is not without a firm grip. How different is the father's right hand! This hand does not hold or grasp. It is refined, soft and very tender. The fingers are close to each other and they have an elegant quality. It lies gently upon the son's shoulder. It wants to caress, to stroke and to offer consolation and comfort. It is a mother's hand."

That is how I see Pope John Paul II. His gift to remain firm and non-compromising on major hot issues, like stem cell research, divorce, abortion, euthanasia and war, alternating with his gentleness and warmth that made everyone feel loved and appreciated, made him a great Pope.

I was impressed by this quote: "Often, after an audience with him, I (the author) felt that heaven had opened up. I felt that I was directly linked up to God in the most profound union with Him and without any intermediary. And this is because the Pope is a mediator but when he has joined you to God he disappears. He uses the keys to open up heaven for us not just through cancelling our sins but also through facilitating our union with God. How else can you perhaps explain that joy, that enthusiasm, that appeal that the Pope has always exerted on young people, on the millions of men and women of every race, culture, religion and creed that he has met all over the world? How else can you explain the complete turnabouts in history for which he has been instrumental over the last 27 years? This Pope communicated God and He 'makes all things new'. As he became more and more burdened by suffering, this communication of God's presence became stronger and stronger right to the last moment of his life" (Chiara Lubich, April 3).

A lot has been said about this great man over the past days. Some had the audacity to try to ridicule him or some of his teachings, some felt it inappropriate for the Maltese House of Representatives to rise for a week to pay tribute to Pope John Paul II. However, these were definitely outnumbered by the great majority of the people of this island who regard Pope John Paul II as a charismatic leader who will remain known in history for having been the Pope to lead the world into the third millennium like no other leader.

Dr Cassar is a Nationalist member of Parliament.