“We thank God for giving us such a great compatriot, unique throughout the long centuries of our Homeland. On the 45th anniversary of the solemn beginning of his pontificate, we ask that he remain our teacher of love for Christ, the Church, and Poland,” said Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski during Mass at the Church of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Rome. During the homily, the metropolitan said that exactly 45 years ago, St. John Paul II uttered the words, “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ.” From the beginning, the Pope evoked admiration and conviction that he was a great successor to St. Peter. In a conversation with André Frossard, the Holy Father emphasized that when Christ asked, “Do you love me?” St. Peter did not answer directly, but the apostle’s words are true and convincing. The Pope also said that the question of love is the most difficult question one can ask a person. John Paul II answered the question about his love for Christ by pointing to Jesus Himself, who knew the secrets of his loving heart. The Archbishop stated that, like St. Paul, Christ entrusted St. John Paul II with the mission of proclaiming the Gospel. Many of his contemporaries probably did not like this. During his pilgrimage to Poland in 1991, the Pope reminded everyone that true freedom is living in accordance with God and His commandments. Some circles distanced themselves from his words, saying that the Poles know how to use their freedom. However, the Pope tirelessly proclaimed the truth for the good of the people, regardless of the reactions. Like St. Paul, the Holy Father proclaimed the Gospel in distress when an assassination attempt on his life took place, and over time illness weakened his strength. The Pope did not lose spirit, and his testimony about the suffering, crucified, and resurrected Christ spoke to everyone. Young people always gathered around him, feeling that he, like a good father, loved them and demanded from them. St. John Paul II, like St. Paul, gave his heart and soul to the members of the Church. The Pope held countless audiences and blessed people because he knew how important it was to them. He joined his sufferings with the suffering of Christ himself for the salvation of the Church. The Pope also loved Poland very much and expressed it in his poem “Thinking Homeland”. “I keep vigil – it also means: I feel responsible for this great, common heritage, which is called Poland. This name defines us all. This name obligates us all. This name costs us all,” he said during the Jasna Góra Appeal. The Holy Father expressed his dramatic love for Poland: “This is my mother, this land! This is my mother, this Homeland! These are my brothers and sisters! And understand, all of you who approach these matters lightly, understand that these matters cannot not concern me, cannot not hurt me! They should also hurt you,” he said.
“We return to the words of St. John Paul II: ‘Open the doors to Christ. Open the doors to the One who knows the secrets of our hearts.’ We try to understand his Petrine mission, full of challenging, suffering-infused love. We thank God for giving us such a great compatriot, unique throughout the long centuries of our Homeland. On the 45th anniversary of the solemn beginning of his pontificate, we ask that he remain our teacher of love for Christ, the Church, and Poland,” concluded the Archbishop.
