Homily of His Excellency Mgr. Pietro Sambi,
Apostolic Nuncio and Delegate,
Chancellor of Bethlehem University,
during the Funeral Mass for Pope John Paul II,
celebrated at the University Chapel,
on Friday 8 April 2005.
At this very moment, in Rome, comes to end the biggest funeral ceremony ever seen in the history of humanity, for the eternal rest of Pope John Paul II.
The pilgrims outnumber the inhabitants of the city.
More than two hundred delegations of Heads of States, Governments and Religious Leaders from all over the world went there to pay their respect to the humble son of Poland who guided the Catholic Church for almost 27 years.
Young people from many countries came in large numbers to say goodbye to “their Pope”. To them were directed the last words of the dying Pope: “I looked for you; you came; I thank you”.
The world’s wide mourning of John Paul II is a human and religious phenomenon which needs to be deeply analysed and understood. But here, I would like to recall some essential points of his legacy:
1) The dignity of every human person: as a consequence, the respect of human rights; the development of each person, not only from the economical point of view, but also under the intellectual, moral and spiritual aspects. Freedom: he experienced nazism and communism, two political ideologies and systems, which destroy the dignity and the freedom of the human being. The religious basis of this fundamental value is the fact that every human creature is created in the likeness of God and brings in himself His image. To respect a human creature means to respect God himself.
2) The defender of human life, as a gift of God, from the conception till the natural end. This is a fundamental value for the future of humanity.
3) In the squares of the world, he brought the Gospel of hope, convinced that, with the help of God, everyone can be a better person and can act in a better way to build a more human society.
4) He has been the Pope of peace, based on justice and on the recognition of the rights of each people. He was never afraid to put himself in the most embarrassing situations, while repeating that peace cannot be the fruit of violence, that war is a defeat for humanity, that dialogue is the human method to solve controversies, that peace is not a loss for anyone, but a victory for the future of humanity.
Dialogue among religions, peoples and persons, has been one of the central points of his Pontificate. Especially dialogue among religions, which should no more be manipulated for conflicts, but should become instead a powerful instrument of peace.
In Assisi, he invited repeatedly the religious Leaders of the world, not only to pray together, but also to learn how to work together for the achievement of peace.
5) There is a value, which has been the leitmotiv of the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II, expressed by the word solidarity: between North and South, between the rich and the poor, between the learned and the illiterate, between the healthy, the sick and the handicapped. Solidarity is the new name of global development.
6) The family has been another central point of the teaching of Pope John Paul II: a family united by love as a fundamental institution of a solid society and a solid church; the family as a school for the transmission of the most noble values, principles and examples to the future generations.
7) The youth: “I trust in you’; “I listen to you”. “In you is enshrined the future of the Church and humanity”. The Pope reminded that those willing to work for the future must work with the youth and remain young with them. During the Eucharistic celebration at Korazin, on the Mount of Beatitudes, before 100.000 young men, some astounded journalists asked me what an old man like the Pope had to say to such a big multitude of young people, and what they were expecting from Him….
I replied: “To help them discover the meaning of their youth, and how to invest their energy for the construction of a better society”.
I have been impressed by the answers given by some young people, who in Rome stood in line for many hours, to pay the last respect to “their Pope”: “He taught me to give a meaning to my life”; “He loved us and had trust in us”; “He helped me to discover the image of Christ in myself and in the other”; “He taught me to bear the cross…”.
And now we must also recall the pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II to Bethlehem in March 2000.
President Arafat spoke of a “day engraved in the history of Palestine”. The Pope replied saying; “Peace for the Palestinian people, peace for all the peoples of the region”.
“Today and always the Palestinian people are in my prayers to the One who holds the destiny of the world in his hands. May the Most High God enlighten, sustain and guide in the path of peace the whole Palestinian people…No one can ignore how much the Palestinian people have suffered in recent decades. Your torment is before the eyes of the world. And it has gone on too long…The Palestinian people have the natural right to a homeland, and the right to be able to live in peace and tranquillity”.
Speaking to the Christian community in Bethlehem he underlined the foundation of their hope: “Here God entered into history to stay with us for ever”.
In the refugees’ camp of Deheshe, the Pope put his voice at the service of the rights of the refugees. He stated: “Throughout my pontificate I have felt close to the Palestinian people in his sufferings - and he launched an appeal that this challenge be dealt with.
There he mentioned this University saying: “The Catholic Church is particularly happy to serve the noble cause of education through the extremely valuable work of Bethlehem University, founded as a sequel to the visit of my predecessor Pope Paul VI in 1964”.
What I have mentioned is only the visible side of Pope John Paul II personality. Without knowing his inner world, we will never be able to understand him. He was a man of contemplation and prayer. His devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Divine Mercy has been the source of his pastoral vitality and enthusiasm.
The six days during which he stayed at the Apostolic Delegation, he wanted the Blessed Sacrament to be close to his apartment: despite his heavy daily program, the Pope used to spend a few hours at night before the Holy Sacrament. In an intimate dialogue with the Lord he prepared the spirit of his speeches, of his meetings, gestures, and words so that they may be a manifestation of God’s saving and healing love.
He taught us:
a) To live as human beings: with values, principles, and ideals; that have to be consistently kept alive in the conscience, speeches, gestures and deeds; life is a mission for a better humanity.
b) To be Christians having Jesus Christ as the light of our life; as our teacher, and inspiring model. Soon after his election John Paul II said to the world: “Do not be afraid, open the door to Jesus Christ”.
c) To die, with serenity and totally abandoned to the divine mercy of God the Father.
The best way to commemorate Pope John Paul II is to open our life to his legacy.
