From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013
Time Magazine describes Pope John XXIII as a revolutionary—a Pope of modernization who kept in continuity with the church’s past, yet made even the most enlightened of his 20th century predecessors seem like voices of another age.
John XXIII was one of the greatest popes in all of history. For him the gospel truly meant what the word itself means, “good news”. This good news filled him with joy, and he constantly radiated a true Christian joy to all around him.
He decried the “prophets of doom”, he wanted to dialogue with the world rather than condemn it, and he instinctively knew that praising one good thing in the life of either a person or a whole society achieves far more than condemning ten bad things.
John XXIII carried the office of pope with great dignity and distinction, the greatness of the office was never allowed to obscure his humanity. He possessed the “natural virtues” in abundance and the Christian and priestly virtues built on them.
John XXIII had the humility to know that he did not have all the answers to the problems facing the Church as it entered the new and difficult world of the 1960s. And so it was with his heart first and his head second that he instinctively turned to the collective wisdom of the whole Church and called a Council.
His emphasis on the importance of our basic humanity is reflected in statements of the Council that speak of qualities which are esteemed by all people and which make Christ’s ministers acceptable, such as “sincerity, a constant love of justice, fidelity to one’s promises, modesty and charity.
You cannot understand contemporary Catholicism without understanding Pope John XXIII. This is the man who did not only change the church, but also impressed the world with the friendliness.
John XXIII always emphasized on the importance of respect of human rights as an essential consequence of the Christian understanding of dignity and respect for humanity, that every man has the right to life, to bodily integrity, and to the means which are suitable for the proper development of life.
Against the background that he issued his first encyclical letter on justice and peace, Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) on 11 April 1963 to ensure that the rights of the people was protected at all the times.
In this work, John XXIII reacted to the political situation in the middle of the Cold War. It was issued only two years after the erection of the Berlin Wall and only a few months after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
He explains in this encyclical that conflicts “should not be resolved by recourse to arms, but rather by negotiation”, emphasizes the importance of respect of human rights as an essential consequence of the Christian understanding of humanity.
The first section of the encyclical establishes the relationship between individuals and humankind, encompassing the issues of human rights and moral duties. The second section addresses the relationship between man and state, dwelling on the collective authority of the latter.
The third section establishes the need for equality amongst nations and the need for the state to be subject to rights and duties that the individual must abide by. The final section presents the need for greater relations between nations, thus resulting in collective states assisting other states.
The encyclical ends with the urging of Catholics to assist non-Christians and non-Catholics in political and social aspects. Pope John XXIII issued eight Papal Encyclicals during his five-year reign as Pope. He ruled from his election on October 28, 1958 until his death on June 3, 1963. Two of his encyclicals, Mater et Magistra and Pacem in Terris and are especially important.
Encyclicals may condemn errors, point out threats to faith and morals, exhort faithful practices, or provide remedies for present and future dangers to the church. The authority of the encyclical varies depending on the circumstances and is not necessarily ex cathedra.
Because of his love for justice and peace Pope John offered to mediate between John F.Kennedy and Nikita Khruschev during the Cuban missile crisis. Both men applauded the pope for his commitment to peace.
During World War I, he did front-line service as a medic and chaplain in the Italian Army. A few years after the war he was sent as Vatican representative to Bulgaria, then to Turkey where, during World War II, he helped refugees from Nazi Germany.
He became Vatican nuncio in France, where he dissuaded General Charles de Gaulle from forcing the Holy See to remove 25 French bishops who had collaborated with the wartime, Nazi-collaborating Petain regime.
On 11 May 1963, the Italian president Antonio Segni awarded Pope John XXIII the Balzan Prize for his engagement for peace. It was the Pope’s last public appearance.
On 25 May 1963, the Pope suffered hemorrhage and required blood transfusions, but the cancer had perforated the stomach wall and peritonitis soon set in.
By 31 May, it had become clear that the cancer had overcome the resistance of Pope John. The Pope died of peritonitis caused by a perforated stomach at 19:50 (local time) on 3 June at the age of 81, ending a reign of four years, seven months.
He was buried on 6 June. He was known affectionately as “Good Pope John” and “the most beloved Pope in history” to many people. On 3 September 2000, John was declared “Blessed” by Pope John Paul II. He was the first pope since Pope X to receive this honour.
Following his beatification, his body was moved from its original burial place in the grottoes below St Peter’s Basilica to the altar of St Jerome and displayed for the veneration of the faithful.
At the time, the body was observed to be extremely well preserved—a condition which the Church ascribes to embalming and the lack of air flow in his sealed triple coffin rather than to a miracle.
The 50th anniversary of his death was celebrated on 3 June 2013 by Pope Francis who visited his tomb and prayed there for a few minutes. Francis then addressed the gathered crowd and spoke about the late pontiff. On the following 5 July, Francis approved Pope John XXIII for canonization, along with Pope John Paul II.
Some participants at the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) favored canonizing John XXIII by acclamation, in the tradition of the Church’s early centuries. But some conservative Council Fathers suspected the acclamation proponents were interested as much in Church politics as in piety.
They thought the endorsement of John XXIII pitted him against his immediate predecessor, Pius XII, contrasting the two popes, their personalities and policies.
The Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints was less than enthusiastic about the proposal because it meant the saintmaking process was being snatched out of its hands by the Council participants.
The potential conflict over the proposal to acclaim John XXIII a saint was avoided when Paul VI announced that the process would be initiated simultaneously on behalf of Pius XII as well.
The decision was a vindication of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and also suggested continuity between the two popes: If Pope John had convoked the Council, Pius had done much to prepare it.
Blessed Pope John XXIII was born Angelo Roncalli on November 25, 1881, in Sotto il Monte, a village of 1200 inhabitants at the foot of the Alps. The Roncallis had lived there since 1429. The house where Angelo was born was called the “palazzo” but it was not much like a palace: the large family shared the ground floor with their cows.
“We were poor but happy with our lot and confident in the help of Providence…. When a beggar appeared at the door of our kitchen, there was always room for him, and my mother would hasten to seat this stranger alongside us.” Corinna Laughlin, Director of Liturgy.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
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Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002