Pope John Paul II, who kissed the earth and spread the Word of love and reconciliation wherever he went, has left to be beside the God he served. Many people around the world are deeply saddened by his death. During his 26 years as Pope he consoled many who had unresolved issues and he achieved breakthroughs in many areas that were at an impasse. Even people who are not Catholic will remember his boundlessly war smile for a long time to come.
He was a religious leader who consistently worked harder than anyone for progress in human rights. We remember him when he visited Korea for the first time in 1984, when he comforted the people of Gwangju when the blood of the massacre that had taken place in 1980 was still fresh. That was indirect support for the democracy movement. He supported the democratic union movement in Poland, and he supported the reform and openness pursued by Soviet Union Communist Party General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.
Another of his accomplishments was leading the Catholic Church in brave self-reflection of about the wrongs in its history. He truly sought forgiveness for the Crusades and the Inquisition during the Middle Ages and for not standing up to the Nazis during World War II. Though he was criticized for maintaining the conservative tradition of the church by opposing contraception, abortion and women in the clergy, he will be remembered in history for seeking reconciliation with Islam, Judaism, and the Orthodox churches and for seeking friendly relations with Buddhism.
The reason he will be revered as a leader beyond Catholicism and for all religions is because he practiced the deep love he had for the suffering. He came from Poland, a country that had known the tyranny of the Nazis, and he spent his early years as the son of an amateur drama actor and quarry worker. That accumulated experience allowed him to stand with and endeavor on behalf of people in suffering. He also strongly warned against widespread materialism in Western society and cruel globalization. By doing so he awoke people to the true meaning of the church's existence. We hope Korea's religious leaders meditate deeply on the spirit of love and reconciliation that he left behind.
The Hankyoreh, 4 April 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
The Pope's Approach to Reconciliation |
