Sunday, October 22, 1978, solemn Liturgy. First, greeting the cardinals, including the elderly Primate of Poland, who, like an adamant oak, kneels, proud, moved, and then his friend, an outstanding theologian, Cardinal. Ratzinger.
Karol presents himself to the world. “Do not be afraid!”. “Do not be afraid, open, open wide the doors to Christ. For His saving power, open the borders of countries, of economic and political systems, of wide areas of culture, civilization and development! Do not be afraid! “.
“When I said the words ‘do not be afraid,’ I could not fully realize how far they would take me, me and the entire Church.” “Christ knows what a person carries inside. Only He himself knows this! Today, people often do not know what is hidden inside them, in the depths of their soul and heart. So often we are uncertain about the meaning of life on this earth and we are overcome with doubt that turns into despair. Please, I beg you with humility and trust! Let Christ speak to people.”
These words seem to have come from the catacombs of a Catholicism that is scared and lost: “Only He alone has the words of life, yes, eternal life.
“This is a proclamation of a living faith – openly – this is not the God of sociology or restless and faded theology, but the powerful and merciful God of Holy Scripture, the certainty that comforts, the devotion that gives courage, the God of Abraham, the God of trials, testimony even to martyrdom.
New, young, strong, this is what the new shepherd looks like, with a lot of safety, self-confidence, boldness, far from the slim, shy, delicate physicality of his two predecessors. Then, on this gentle morning of Roman October, Charles once again transcends, breaks protocol, suddenly descends the steps of the Basilica, goes to the people, meets the crowd, then with an instinctive gesture he grabs the shepherd’s cross with both hands and raises it like a bought out banner, like an old banner that has been forgotten for too long , as a signal that it’s time to gather, it’s time for God’s people to collect their tents and hit the road.
