Quarter century of praise

The Royal Ontario Museum celebrated Pope's life works

This Pope makes people shudder. Even in absence, last week at the Royal Ontario Museum he enveloped the audience in his cloak, captivating and transporting the members along the quarter century of his Papacy. It was a trip back in time following the main steps of his work along this very long period in office, including the fundamental visit to Toronto in 2002.
Some 150 people followed with great intimate emotion the life and message of this Pope who 'came from afar' and went even further, beyond the border of unimaginable. "A work that went farther than any expectation," said Piero Schiavazzi, the director of the movie about the Pope's 25th anniversary.
The event had been organized as a celebration of the life and works of the 'Polish Pope', but it turned into something more, as John Paul II is 'more' for millions of faithful.
A question arises whenever one re-examines his story: who is he? What did he do?
He's probably one of the most important and decisive men of all time. Maybe, he's God's hand on Earth for fighting evil. He's the main architect of the Vatican's latest world policy.
Piero Schiavazzi, a journalist with the Telepace Catholic TV Station, discussed some of those strategies with us.
Why was the visit to Toronto for the World Youth Day fundamental for the Pope and for the Vatican? Why just outside the United States and not there?
"A clear reply requires a reference to remote events, the medieval Investiture Conflict."
[Ed's Note: In the 11th and 12th century the Papacy and the Empire had a tug-of-war about who was entitled to confer church posts; in 962 Emperor Otto I confirmed his power over the choice of the new Pope; in 1046, Emperor Henry III put his own man on the papal throne.]
Which Empire are we talking about now?
"We have two superpowers today: the Vatican and the United States of America. Just like then, we have the 'Empire', now embodied by the USA, 'pontificating'. They are trying to impose their 'Americanization', i.e. their model of social development based on cinema, fiction, economy, and consumerism, upon the whole world."
What is the Pope proposing?
"Today's world can only come out of its waiting state, of this stagnation, by one of two ways. Either by the American 'melting pot', a confusion that annihilates humanity, or by the way pointed at by the Pope: the 'meeting place', a crossroads where different people can get together and live together in peace."
Considering that many espouse the U.S. model, it would seem to work, wouldn't it?
"If we look at the last three years, we can see that that model does not break though, it is incompressible, and therefore it is a failure. On the contrary, many people must co-exist in small spaces, maintaining different cultures, languages, and lifestyles; this is the project of the Vatican."
Again, why was Toronto so important to this project?
"Because this city is at the forefront of this change. Toronto is the brightest example of what the Vatican wants, and it works."
What was the meaning of the encounter of the Pope with the youth, especially American youth, in Toronto?
"Lake Ontario represented a mirror of the future for John Paul II. Like an explorer's canoe, the boat of Peter, in these 25 years, navigated the river of history and the ocean of globalization, landing on the shores of a multiethnic and multicultural city, a construction site of a new humanity."
The Vatican is against the U.S. model, but in favour of what?
"Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Pontifical State belonged to NATO. As soon as the Wall fell, the Vatican left NATO. It did not want to appear as a tool of the West. The old confrontation between East and West has become one between North and South. The Vatican is on the side of the South, of the weak, of the oppressed, in favour of peace and peaceful coexistence among people."
The Pope's relation with youth has always been special. This, too, is wrapped in mystery. What is the secret of this success? We asked it to great soprano Cecilia Gasdia, who sang for the Pope in Toronto.
"I was lucky enough to meet the Pope in person in 1981. I was 18 years old, I was to sing in Sala Nervi, and he had just been released from the hospital following the attack against him. For us young people, being there was a great emotion."
Why?
"Piercing the armour of youth is very hard. However, he did it, because he's one like us. He tackles difficulties alone, and conquers them. He's got strength, grit, and fortitude without peer."
Is this enough to win their hearts?
"Of course not, it takes much more. His secret, I think, is his openness towards them, his staying on their level. He was poor; he suffered. Young people perceive this, and feel drawn to him."
On his level?
"We should be careful not to create confusion. The Pope is like our parents; he's an authority that should never be discussed, or else he loses his charisma. He's close to the youth, they feel he's on their side, but his authority remains."
What should John Paul II do for the world?
"A Pope's role is to speak up for peace, that's for sure! Unfortunately, with so many tough problems, we have a physically weak pontiff. We would need the young Wojtyla, he would bring order to chaos. He should be reborn with all his strength."
He's still working a lot. What do you think of that?
"I have a hunch that before leaving this world he'll manage to obtain something big between Israelis and Arabs. He's got such strength that he will be able to do something else, something big, to set the world straight and bring peace to it. I feel sure of it."

Publication Date: 2003-12-14
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3453