Polish Bishops on the Venerable John Paul II: We Have a Friend of God in Heaven

The Polish bishops are looking to Pope John Paul II, who will be beatified May 1, as a friend of God in heaven. In a letter written on the topic of the upcoming beatification, the Polish Episcopal Conference affirmed, "Pope John Paul II guided the universal Church and strengthened us in the faith for more than 26 years."

P>WARSAW, Poland, (Zenit.org).- The Polish bishops are looking to Pope John Paul II, who will be beatified May 1, as a friend of God in heaven.

In a letter written on the topic of the upcoming beatification, the Polish Episcopal Conference affirmed, "Pope John Paul II guided the universal Church and strengthened us in the faith for more than 26 years."

It noted that "the gift of the life and ministry of Pope John Paul II enriched the life of the contemporary Church and of the world."

"From the beginning of his pontificate, the Holy Father put in focus the person of Christ, Redeemer of the human race," the bishops stated.

They added, "He made an appeal to admit Christ and to open to Christ 'the confines of the states, economic as well as political systems, the vast fields of culture, of civilization, of development.'"

The letter stated, "John Paul II defended the dignity of man created in the image and likeness of God" and he was "a defender of life in every phase of its development."

It continued: "In his social encyclicals, he requested that social and national life be guided always by principles of justice and solidarity.

"He asked that consideration be given to the particular case of the poor, of the marginalized."

Divine Mercy

The bishops reminded the faithful that John Paul II was a witness of mercy: "The Servant of God John Paul II, inasmuch as [he was] direct witness of the inhuman totalitarian regimes of the 20th century, preached the truth of Divine Mercy."

This truth is "gives aspirations and hopes," they added.

According to the prelates, the preparation for John Paul II's beatification "cannot stop at questions of personal and family life."

They affirmed, "We share the concern for the quality and the style of the political life of our country," in which "are manifested the scandalous divisions between persons of different factions."

The prelates continued: "Hostility and enmity are manifested. The liberty and democracy of today is not that which we dreamt of in the dark years of communism."

"As pastors of the Church, we know that to invite others to change their hearts, we must first give example," they stated. "Thus, imitating John Paul II, who often had the courage to ask for forgiveness for the sins committed by the children of the Church, we want to confess that often we have been unable to openly combat evil, which is opposed to concord and unity."

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