During the conclave, when the election of the Archbishop of Kraków became increasingly likely, and he was increasingly uneasy and perplexed, all his doubts were dispelled by Cardinal Wyszynski, recalling the great task that awaits him: “Please do not reject. The new Pope will have to introduce the Church into the third millennium.” And, this way, this perspective immediately became part of the program of the new pontificate, becoming its distinctive feature at all times and in a deeper sense. John Paul II began to talk about this during the inauguration ceremony of his universal ministry. The main lines of the Jubilee were already laid out in 1986, fourteen years earlier, in the encyclical letter Dominum et vivificantem.
The announcement of the Jubilee, with everything that is related to it in terms of repentance and conversion, was a providential and unique opportunity not only to acknowledge the shortcomings, sins, and betrayals of the Spirit of God, committed throughout history by Christians, clergy and laity. It was therefore not only an opportunity to ask forgiveness for all transgressions, but also through the path of purification, it provided an opportunity to create the basis for the spiritual and moral renewal of the Catholic community, in the hope of future great reform. In this way, the Church was to enter the third millennium unloaded with the past history, but with a new image and with new credibility. Most likely this intended to remove many obstacles hindering contacts with other Christian Churches and other religions, just as it was intended to foster a re-dialogue with contemporary culture and science. (…) Perhaps, at that time just a few were aware of it. But, in the intentions and actions of Pope Wojtyła, everything was aimed at this goal. Speeches, documents, travels, every single act always had in purpose, clearly or less clearly, clearing the terrain of all misunderstandings, alleviating past tensions, and, if necessary, asking for forgiveness.
With the permission of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “At the side of the Saint”
St. Stanislaw BM Publishing House, Krakow 2013
