It is a sign of Pope John Paul II’s enormous spiritual prestige that the title ‘the Great’ has been readily conferred on him by his contemporaries well before his recent death. Long before the verdict of history, his pontificate is recognised, by Catholics and others – as the tributes to him show - as having had profound significance. Reading the eight timely essays in this collection, it is hard not to accept that he was a providential choice as pontiff.

The turbulence of the last quarter of the 20th century has been given sharp relief by his exceptionally energetic and visionary leadership of the Church. Only two other popes, Gregory and Leo, have been awarded a similar title. In his introductory essay William Oddie argues that John Paul II, like them, is a Pope “able to confront the world without denying it”, a man of indomitable courage and one not afraid to share the martyrdom of his physical frailty – and now his dying - with the world.

All the contributors highlight different aspects of this most creative pontificate. Ian Ker, discussing John Paul II and the new ecclesial movements, shows why the Holy Father insisted on the word ‘ecclesial’ rather than ‘lay’. The word ‘lay’ adheres to the old (false) division between the clergy and the laity. For the late Pope, the charismatic spirit of the new movements and the hierarchical structure of the Church were ‘co-essential’ and complementary – the true ‘ecclesia’. As Fr Ker reminds us, it is often the Bishop of Rome, rather than the local bishops, who has the wisdom and perspective to encourage new movements and who does not see them as a threat to local jurisdiction.

Brendan Leahy analyses the Mariology of John Paul II and his twin profiles of the Church, ‘Marian’ and ‘Petrine’: ‘subjective’ prayerful service and ‘objective’ magisterial authority.

John Saward, writing on John Paul II and the causes of the saints, reminds us of why this Pope has canonised more saints than all his predecessors. A priest I once knew, critical of this particular pontifical initiative, once told me that saints today were becoming ‘too commonplace’. On the contrary, Saward argues, sanctity is our goal and the saints our models to emulate. In order to attain union with Christ the soul must undergo “a deep purgation, costly configuration to Christ crucified”. This spiritual journey of purgation, illumination, union and transformation, so vividly dramatised in the lives of the saints, is what we will all experience in some form if we ever hope to see God face to face. Further, the Church should be known for her holiness: “Look at these Christians. See how they love one another.” The life and witness of our late Holy Father, more than all the canonisations he has presided over, has been an inspirational example in this respect.

Leonie Caldecott, writing about the Holy Father and the new feminism, shows precisely how the Pope understood and encouraged the particular ‘genius’ of women, rather than being their ‘oppressor’, as his feminist critics aver. When we observe how badly secular feminism has served the cause of woman’s true liberation, it is good to be reminded of John Paul II’s insistence that ‘womanhood is “‘designed’ with motherhood in mind”. All women have the vocation to spiritual motherhood, whether they have children or not; when this vocation is frustrated they will not, the Pope indicated, find true fulfilment.

Agneta Sutton discusses the Pope’s development of the teaching behind Humanae Vitae, in his insightful phrase, “the theology of the body”; again, it will be many years before the creative implications of this approach to sexual love will be fully received and understood.

Rodger Charles SJ on the social teaching of the Pope, Tracey Martin on his authentic interpretation of Vatican II and Aidan Nichols OP on his encyclicals, complete this most stimulating collection. As Aidan Nichols states, the opening words of the Holy Father’s first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis, “The redeemer of man, Jesus Christ, is the centre of the universe and history”, give the key to his whole pontificate. It is only by recognition of Christ as “the Way, the Truth and the Life” that man in his spiritual, emotional and social life can be fulfilled. The CTS and the Catholic Herald are to be commended for this joint book enterprise which gives, in small compass, a wide-ranging introduction to the greatest figure of our times.

© 2005 Francis Phillips

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