The most significant moment, of course, was the Pope’s speech in Puebla, addressed to the entire Latin American Episcopate. The speech was uncompromising in doctrinal assertions about Christ (who is not a revolutionary from Nazareth) and the Church (which cannot be limited to support the socio-political movement). On the other hand, it was very open to social problems: “The Church wishes to stay free with regard to the competing systems, in order to opt only for man.” In the opinion of bishops and many theologians, these words were significant and, in a sense, novel. The Holy Father defended the dignity of the Church, its independence from political and economic systems and governments. Not because the Church would constitute a so-called the third path between Marxist and liberal ideology, but because, in the name of the Gospel, he demanded the right to assess whether various political programs are in line with God’s plan prepared for humanity. The Church wanted to serve man. The Church wanted the man to be free from all forms of coercion, oppression, injustice, free in professing faith in God. This is how the election for the ‘benefit of man” is manifested!
With the permission of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “Testimony”
TBA Publishing House, Warsaw 2007
