wfn.org | [ENS] Bridge-building, in the spirit of Pope John Paul II (Daybook)

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

April 8, 2005 - Friday Forum

Bridge-building, in the spirit of Pope John Paul II

[ENS] -- As millions today witnessed the funeral Mass of Pope John Paul
II,
the faith and unifying accomplishments of this Pontiff -- a term derived
from the Latin "bridge builder" -- were clearly reflected among the
unprecedented human assembly, which reached from those gathered at the
Vatican to all who followed the rites worldwide via broadcast media.

In death as in life, the Pope demonstrated a far-reaching "convening
power"
in assembling persons from all walks of life around the centrality of
Christ's message of love, forgiveness, sacrifice and service.

"What has always struck me is that John Paul II always gave an
impression of
personal approachability and involvement, especially to young people,
who
responded in huge enthusiastic crowds to his visits," said Paris-based
Episcopal Bishop Pierre Whalon in comments before today's funeral Mass.

"He had an extraordinary ability to communicate in memorable phrases --
'the
culture of death,' for instance. As a theologian, his writing remains
unmatched in the field of economic justice," said Whalon, who is
bishop-in-charge of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. "His
clear strong personal faith was a witness to the world."

Whalon said the Pope "showed a personal courage which won the admiration
of
even his sworn enemies."

"John Paul had the gift for gestures, in which he regularly moved out of
the
normal bounds of papal behavior to reach out to others," Whalon said.
"Perhaps his greatest one came when he went to pray at the Wailing Wall
in
Jerusalem, leaving, as all supplicants do, a prayer on a scrap of paper
wedged into a crevasse. Thus he made an indelible impression that
started
moving the Church toward real reconciliation with the Jewish people."

Whalon echoed the voices of other Anglicans who since the Pope's death
on
April 2 have commented on the potential of what can be achieved by
reconciliation, by bridge-building, much as John Paul II helped liberate
his
native Poland from communism.

The Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop, Frank T. Griswold, said April 2
that "With the death of his Holiness John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, the
world
has lost one of its great Christian leaders. Like the householder in the
gospel he was able to bring out of the treasure of his own deep spirit
things 'both new and old.' His voice and moral authority gave
inspiration
and hope to millions well beyond the Roman Catholic Church. His
commitment
to the unity of the church expressed itself in his personal willingness
to
meet with representatives of other faith communities and to invite those
outside his own tradition to reflect on how the ministry of the Bishop
of
Rome might be of greater service both in the cause of Christian unity
and
the well-being of the world."

- - - -

Note to Readers: Full text of Bishop Whalon's statement is posted
on-line in
a collection of comments assembled by the Episcopal News Service
(http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_60816_ENG_HTM.htm)

ENS will continue coverage, especially of ecumenical and interfaith
connections, as the Roman Catholic Church now moves forward with the
election of a new Pope.

Anglican sources in Rome include St. Paul's (Within the Walls) Episcopal
Church in Rome (part of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe),
http://www.stpaulsrome.it, the Rev. Dr. Michael L. Vono, rector; and the
Anglican Centre in Rome, www.anglicancentreinrome.org, Bishop John Flack
(Church of England), executive director. Further information about the
Convocation of American Churches in Europe is available at
http://www.tec-europe.org.

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