April 27, 2014: The proverbial all roads lead to Rome proved to be reality this Saturday
and Sunday as pilgrims kept pouring into the Eternal City which marked the canonisation
of two great Popes of the recent past. Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, from now
on will be called St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II.
Crowds began gathering
around the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square on Saturday evening for the Eucharistic service
that was to begin on Sunday at 10 a.m. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered overnight
praying, singing and chanting the names of the beloved Popes. After praying the Chaplet
of Divine Mercy, led by the choir at half past nine, the procession of concelebrants
comprising of the Cardinals, Patriarchs and bishops along with the Holy Father made
its way into the venue with the chants of the Litany of the Saints.
The presence
of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the near thousand Cardinals and Bishops, thousands
of priests and official delegations from 93 countries and International Organizations
with 24 heads of States, religious delegations like that of the Muslims and Jews,
gave the ceremony a touch of solemnity. After the Holy Father greeted the mammoth
congregation, the hymn invoking the Holy Spirit, ‘Veni Creator’ was sung. Then the
Holy Father solemnly uttered the formula of canonization in Latin, with a resounding
of loud cheers of the million strong congregation. The formula read “after deliberating,
consulting and praying for divine assistance we declare and define Blessed John XXIII
and John Paul II be saints and we enroll them among the saints, decreeing that they
are to be venerated as such by the whole church."
After the relics of the new
saints were presented and blessed, the Holy mass of the Divine Mercy Sunday, followed.
The Gospel was solemnly sung in Latin, followed by Greek. In his homily Pope Francis
referred to the Sunday that concludes the Octave of Easter and which John Paul II
wished to dedicate to Divine Mercy, focusing on the glorious wounds of the risen Jesus.
“The
wounds of Jesus are a scandal, a stumbling block for faith, yet they are also the
test of faith.” He said. That is why on the body of the risen Christ the wounds never
pass away: they remain, for those wounds are the enduring sign of God’s love for us.
They are essential for believing in God.” He added.
John XXIII and John Paul
II were not afraid to look upon the wounds of Jesus, to touch his torn hands and his
pierced side. They were not ashamed of the flesh of Christ, they were not scandalized
by him, by his cross, Pope Francis said. Adding that these were two men of courage,
filled with the parrhesia of the Holy Spirit, and they bore witness before the Church
and the world to God’s goodness and mercy.
They were priests, bishops and popes
of the twentieth century. They lived through the tragic events of that century, but
they were not overwhelmed by them. For them, God was more powerful; faith was more
powerful, said Pope Francis. In these two men, who looked upon the wounds of Christ
and bore witness to his mercy, there dwelt a living hope and an indescribable and
glorious joy.
This is also the image of the Church which the Second Vatican
Council set before us. John XXIII and John Paul II cooperated with the Holy Spirit
in renewing and updating the Church in keeping with her pristine features. He said
that St. John XXIII was the pope of openness to the Spirit and in his own service
to the People of God, John Paul II was the pope of the family. In fact he wanted to
be remembered as the pope of the family, said Pope Francis, to loud cheers of the
faithful. Further more he said he was happy that we are in the process of journeying
with families towards the Synod on the family.
Pope Francis at the end of
the Eucharist, personally thanked everyone present and all who made the event a memorable
one. This was followed by the singing of the Regina Coeli and a final blessing.