Local Catholics rejoice as beloved pope is one step closer to sainthood

Roman Catholics throughout the world, crowds of pilgrims in Rome and admirers of Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005, rejoiced as Pope Benedict XVI celebrated a Mass of Beatification for his popular predecessor last Sunday. The beatification means that John Paul is one step from being formally declared a saint. Already considered a saint by many, particularly in his native Poland, John Paul’s beatification also means that he can now be venerated as “blessed.”

Reverend Mary Chang of the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Cedarhurst visited Rome six years ago following the election of Pope Benedict XVI. “When I was line up to visit Pope John XII at his glass-entombed and preserved body, I had no words to say. Silently, I bowed and processed my reflection about how much his life influenced around the world,” she said. “Admiration of his hardship in life as well as his priesthood, and he was the only Polish Pope, his minority background didn’t stop him from becoming the majority leader of the Catholic world.”

Msgr. Andrzej Zglejszewski, director of the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s Office of Worship, considers himself to be “part of the John Paul generation,” and said he felt “fantastic” about the beatification. “I was a teenager in Poland when he was elected and the enthusiasm that he created in Poland was very influential in my selection of a vocation,” he said.

Born Karol Wojtyla in 1920, the charismatic pope shaped the modern Catholic Church during his 26-year tenure. Major themes in his papacy can be traced to defining events in his early life in Krakow, most importantly the experience of living under Nazis and Communists. An outspoken advocate for human rights, John Paul is known as the pope who brought down communism and worked toward Christian reconciliation with other religions. Proficient in many languages, he authored a number of best-selling books and in his worldwide travels, he made a point of reaching out to the young, drawing immense, enthusiastic crowds.

The process of sainthood for the late pope was fast-tracked by his successor, who started it just weeks after John Paul’s death, waiving the traditional five-year wait. The Vatican has confirmed that John Paul II performed at least one miracle and it will need to confirm that he performed another miracle before he can be declared a saint. Father Tom Moriarty of St. Joseph’s in Hewlett said he participated at Mass with Pope John Paul II when he was in New York in 1995 and saw him on a visit to Rome. “He was one of the longest reigning Pope’s ever,” Moriarty said. “He brought so many people back to the church and led the church during tough times.”