2008 Woodie Awards
All Elle. All the Time.
Danielle Kuehnel, Copy Editor
- Page 1 of 1
Last Friday, I put down my huge load of homework and traveled to the beach for a friend's birthday. On the way up, we blasted music and made frivolous chit-chat. However, there were a few issues from the previous week that were really bothering me, and I felt the need to get my friends' opinions: the Terry Shiavo case, and the deterioration of Pope John Paul II.
Since one of the people in that car was also raised Catholic, I chose to discuss the latter. I've known her since the second grade, and I know that she still considers herself Catholic.
“Isn't it sad,” I began, “about the Pope?”
The girl sitting next to me-who isn't Catholic, but nondenominational-quickly replied, “Yes,” even though she really had no real reason to be incredibly sympathetic.
However, my friend in the front seat responded with, “No. He's a jerk.”
A rather telling moment of silence displayed the two passengers' and my surprise at the harsh response.
I felt like it was my place to say something, so I quickly defended myself and said, “No, he's not. How can you say that?”
“Well, it's just stupid to forbid contraception, abortion and stem cell research.”
“That doesn't mean he's a jerk.”
The argument went on for a bit, but my friend that I have known for 13 years would not budge on her position that the Pope was a jerk.
This was on Friday.
Saturday, I came home from the beach and discovered that Pope John Paul II had just died. I was filled with unexplainable emotions. Even though I've sort of avoided church for two years, I still feel like a huge part of who I am is embedded in the Catholic tradition-I went to Catholic schools for 12 years, was baptized, confirmed-the works. In high school, my youth group took me on service trips to The Dalles, Yakima and as far as Tijuana. However, one year, our youth group strayed from the usual mission trip and went to the 17th World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada.
World Youth Day was founded in 1986 by Pope John Paul II in an effort to reach out to the Catholic youth. Over the years, World Youth Day morphed into an international event with youth traveling from around the globe to witness the Pope's blessings and words.
And I had the opportunity to go to one of these International World Youth Days. I was there when he arrived at Exhibition Place in Toronto, and I was there when he stayed for hours in evening vigil at Downsview Park. I have photos of the Pope Mobile and of the stage on which he walked.
Even now, a few years after the event, I still feel a strange connection to Pope John Paul II. I never met him, but I was there-where he was. It is amazing to be in the presence of the man who is at the head of your religion.
But besides the connection that I feel with the late Pontiff, I was also offended by my friend's talk because Pope John Paul II has done so much for the world and for Catholics. He helped to abolish communism, and aided in Poland becoming a free country. He has visited the Wailing Wall and has met with many world leaders, from Fidel Castro to George W. Bush. He is the first Pope to pray in a mosque or a synagogue and has met with the Dalai Lama. His action in world affairs was not simply meddling, but strategic moves in helping to create peace in an otherwise violent world. He showed that it is good and righteous to be loving and tolerant, even to those who have opposing views, even to those who tried to hurt him.
The story that strikes me the most is that in 1981, the Pope was nearly assassinated. He was shot twice in the abdomen and spent time in the hospital as a result. Some believe that this attempt on his life was the beginning of the end. But to make a long story short, two years later, the Pope went to the man who shot him and forgave him. How can a man possibly be a jerk if he is nearly killed and then forgives the man that tried to kill him? He embodied pacifism and love and forgiveness-ideals that speak not only to the Christian community, but to each person. He was unconditional in his love for others, especially for the youth.
Further, the Pope went to great lengths to apologize for the pain that the Church has inflicted over the ages-as far back as Galileo and the Crusades. On the day when Catholics come to repent to the Church, Pope John Paul II brought the Church to repent to science, other religions and the world. Because of his efforts, the differences between Church and State, and the differences between Christianity and Judaism and Buddhism and Islam are finally being laid to rest.
Finally, the Pope was an advocate for those who could not speak for themselves. He encouraged respect for all life, at any stage, whether that is an unborn child or the elderly. To many, it is one thing to say that they believe in a cause, but it is another thing to actively retain those views; it's easy to talk the talk, but hard to walk the talk. Pope John Paul II walked his talk. This papacy has been the most open concerning the Pope's health. He was open about his Parkinson's, and crowds watched him deteriorate to the point where he could not even speak (Easter 2005). In his death, the Pope showed how valuable life is. His legacy will indeed live forever.
However, in accordance with my friend, I agree that nobody is perfect. And perhaps the Pope's views on women and the freedom to choose were conservative. However, he was never inconsistent in his respect for all life-he even protested the Terry Shiavo case as he was on his own deathbed-and in his love for all. Now, how can he possibly be a jerk when the good things that he's done clearly outweigh his conservatism?
Likewise, with all people, just because you disagree with a person's views does not make them a bad person. Be conscious of the way you speak, and be conscious of the way you think, for in the end, that is who you will be to all others.
In the words of the late Pope John Paul II, remember:
“The question that arises is dramatic: On what foundations must we build the new historical era that is emerging from the great transformations of the twentieth century? Is it enough to rely on the technological revolution now taking place, which seems to respond only to criteria of productivity and efficiency, without reference to the individual's spiritual dimension or to any universally shared ethical values? Is it right to be content with provisional answers to the ultimate questions, and to abandon life to the impulses of instinct, to short-lived sensations or passing fads? The question will not go away: On what foundations, on what certainties should we build our lives and the life of the community to which we belong?” (Address by the Holy Father John Paul II: Evening Vigil with Youth People, 17th World Youth Day).
Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla), 1920-2005, rest in peace.