Editorial: Enormous debt

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
26 October 2003

Meaning of life

Tuition fee jump

Award for Reservist chaplain

Outreach

Priests set priorities

Step behind the convent walls

Desire to serve others

Trial for euthanasia?

Interfaith

Seminar on self help in action for hearing impaired

Editorial: Enormous debt

Letters: Interstate appreciation

Conversation: Br Dan Stafford, chaplain to the Australian Jockey Club - A generous fraternity of 'saints and sinners'

Voice of Youth: Blessed upon the earth

‘Wonderful occasion’

Stone takes the cake

Bumper crop of students

Concert ‘journey’ by young honours Pope’s anniversary

‘My kids’ bring tears

Editorial: Enormous debt

Pope John Paul II has prayed for wisdom, holiness and strength as he continues his mission as leader of the Church. He has asked God to “continue to pour upon me the Holy Spirit, the spirit of wisdom, of holiness and strength, in order to serve his holy people and proclaim to all people the Gospel of salvation and peace”.

There is no doubting his wisdom or his holiness.

And his inner strength is astounding. For a man whose physical wellbeing is so indifferent, he exhibits extraordinary resilience and tenacity.

Where does he find this inner strength?

The Pope has made it clear that the prayers of Catholics help carry him through his ministry.

“God alone knows how much sacrifice, prayer and suffering have been offered up to support me in my service to the Church,” he said.

But he admits to another source as well - the “benevolent gaze of the risen Christ”.

In his sermon at his anniversary Mass, John Paul said that “although he is aware of my human fragility, he (Jesus) encourages me to respond with trust like Peter did: ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.’

“And then he invites me to assume the responsibilities that he himself has entrusted to me,” he said.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, summed up the Pope’s ministry in a short tribute at the anniversary Mass.

He said the Pope had travelled the world preaching the reconciliation of the Gospel.

“You have addressed young and old, rich and poor, the powerful and the humble,” he said, “and have always demonstrated - following Christ’s example - a particular love for the poor and defenceless, bringing to all a spark of God’s truth and love.

“You have taken on insults and criticisms, but at the same time provoked gratitude and love and made the walls of hatred and estrangement fall.”

John Paul II has declared that his ministry is to “serve man and all humanity” and has asked us to continue to pray for him so he can go on with his great work.

It is an honour to do so. It should be beholden on us all as part payment of the enormous debt we owe him.