Much has been said about the silver jubilee of John Paul II's pontificate. More will be said in the coming days. The celebrations of the anniversary point to some of the characteristics of this pontificate.
Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, was elected as the 264th Pope on the second ballot of the second day of the second conclave of 1978, just five months after his 58th birthday. Six days later, on October 22, 1978, his pastoral ministry began.
His is the fourth longest pontificate in the history of the papacy. The longest was that of St Peter (precise dates unknown), followed by Pope Pius IX (1846-78: 31 years, seven months, 17 days), and his successor, Leo XIII (1878-1903: 25 years, and five months).
On Sunday Pope John Paul II will preside over the beatification of Mother Teresa. This in itself will be a break with tradition. John Paul has speeded things for this apostle of the destitute by waiving the mandatory five-year waiting period before formal evaluation of a candidate for beatification can begin.
The Pope has created more saints and beatified more people than any pontiff in history - more than all the previous Popes combined. According to the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, over the past 25 years the Pope has proclaimed 1,324 Blessed (including three Maltese) in 140 ceremonies and 477 saints in 51 ceremonies.
This pontificate is marked by the 102 pastoral trips outside Italy that the Pope did. He has made 143 trips within Italy and nearly 700 within the city and diocese of Rome, including visits to 301 of the 325 parishes of the diocese of which he is bishop, in addition to religious institutes, universities, seminaries, hospitals, rest homes, prisons and schools.
In fact he has also travelled more, spoken more and published more than any of his predecessors. Like a real missionary, the Pope directly communicated the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the four corners of the world. He has still not managed to visit Russia and China. It seem that this task will be completed by his successor. Through these voyages he communicated in a very strong way the message that the Church is global, not just Roman.
One of his greatest contributions that will surely be part of history is his important contribution to the fall of the Soviet system with his support for the Polish Solidarity movement. Who believed that this was possible in our time? The Pope not only believed it to be possible but greatly helped to bring it about.
It was quite natural that a Pope with such a high profile and strong personality would come in for a fair (or perhaps unfair) share of criticism. Frances Kissling, head of Catholics for a Free Choice in Washington, said: "He will go down as a fifth century Pope in terms of who women are." He has also been criticised for refusing to end priestly celibacy, ordain women or ease the Church's strict stand on sexual morality.
The Pope has not escaped criticism from traditionalists either. Conservatives who reject Vatican II's reforms and cling to the Latin Mass have been disappointed by the Pope's refusal to share their stand. They have also criticised him for showing reverence for Islam's holy book, the Koran, during a visit to a mosque.
Cardinal Bernardin Gantin of Benin, retired Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, said the Pope's governing and pastoral style has always been co-operative and not controlling.
In meeting with the Pope, visiting bishops often have found themselves before "a father who understands them, a pastor who knows them, and a friend who comforts them", he said. The cardinal said the Pope's approach has always been to defend the weak and the poor and stand up for their rights. That is true for human life at all levels, he said.
"The protection of life is the most passionate and constant struggle of his pontificate," he said.
The Pope's constant defence of the rights of the unborn and his constant condemnation of war and capital punishment are three examples of the defence the Pope continuously does in favour of the culture of life and love.
We have seen so many wonderful images of this great man throughout the past 25 years. Perhaps the strongest images are being shown now. These are the images of a frail, weak Pope who is strengthened by the determination to drink the chalice to the very end.
What a wonderful example is being given to each and every one of us! Wasn't it St Paul who said that the strength of God shows itself through our weaknesses? The Pope is a living witness to this truth.