The death of Pope John Paul II is a loss that will be felt in a very deep and personal way by every Catholic. This pope was visible to us and opened his heart to us more than any previous pontiff. Part of this can be attributed to technological advances in communications and travel that enabled him to reach out to the faithful in ways unavailable to his predecessors. But much of it must be attributed to his personal style. He was pastoral by nature. He was happiest when he was among the people – blessing, encouraging and teaching them, and praying with and for them. Those born after his election to the papacy in October 1978, and even those born during the few years before then, have never known any other Holy Father. Many of these young people, including hundreds from the Diocese of St. Cloud, had the opportunity to see and hear him in person because of his presence at World Youth Days, one of which was held in Denver. Many other Catholics of the Diocese of St. Cloud had the opportunity to travel to Iowa in 1979 when the pope offered Mass at the Living History Farms near Des Moines. No doubt, because of his extensive travels, this pope was seen in person by more Catholics than any previous pope. These pastoral visits contributed to the great affection that Catholics had for him. Most of my own years as a bishop have coincided with John Paul’s years as pope. Karol Wojtyla was elected to the See of Peter just two years after Pope Paul VI named me as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis. It was Pope John Paul II who, in 1982, appointed me bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck and, in 1995, as bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud. Five times during my episcopacy and John Paul’s papacy, I met with him at the Vatican as part of my ad limina visits which are required of each bishop every five years. I was impressed by his energy and athleticism during my earlier visits, and I admired his serenity and grace in my most recent visit, which was just this past December when he was already struggling with illness. I admired his willingness to keep in the public eye even as he aged. He was willing to be old and frail before the whole Church and the whole world. For most of us, that is not easy. The death of Pope John Paul II is a loss not just for Catholics. For the past 27 years, he has been the world’s most prominent and consistent spokesperson for the dignity of every human being. In retrospect, it seems to me there was a single theme underlying his entire papacy. Whether he was addressing moral issues, social concerns, political and economic systems, or doctrinal matters, his deepest desire was for the well being of humanity, as individuals and as a whole. He believed humankind capable of eliminating war, oppression, and poverty. He believed people capable of choosing goodness, for themselves, their families, their countries, and the global community. This is remarkable given his firsthand experience of the evils of Nazism and communism. He witnessed man’s inhumanity to man and rather than despair he became an ambassador of hope. This can only be explained by his firm belief in the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. But even as we mourn the loss of Pope John Paul II, we rejoice with him that his earthly suffering has ended and he has met face-to-face the God he served so well.
John F. Kinney is bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud.
