Thanksgiving Masses for the canonizations
April 28, 2014 - Two special Masses were celebrated in Rome on Monday in thanksgiving for the canonization of Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II who were officially proclaimed saints by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. Several hundred thousand pilgrims from St. John Paul II’s homeland, Poland, filled the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square for a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica, along with John Paul’s former secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Archbishop of Krakow, Poland. Another Mass for pilgrims from John XXIII’s native diocese of Bergamo, northern Italy, was celebrated in the Church of San Carlo al Corso, where the future Pope, Angelo Gisueppe Roncalli was ordained a priest on March 19, 1925. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Francesco Beschi of Bergamo.
In his homily, Cardinal Comastri noted that the canonization of St. John Paul II, the ‘pope of the family’, was a necessary gift in an age when the family was under attack and threatened. He noted that the "defense of human life" was at the heart of his preaching and action, and cited several quotes including his famous “cry of Agrigento” in southern Italy denouncing Mafia atrocities. Cardinal Comastri also recalled John Paul’s vigorous efforts in trying to prevent the Gulf War.
At the start of the Mass, Cardinal Dziwisz greeted his fellow nationals in Polish, describing St. John Paul ‘a son of the Poland and the Pope of Divine Mercy,” who put into practice the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and also launched the Christian faith into the third millennium. Cardinal Dziwisz, who served Karol Woytyla for some 40 years from before he became Pope John Paul II, also noted that for him Italy had become a second homeland. “Surely today John Paul II is blessing Italy as well as Poland and the entire world from above. All nations, cultures and languages have found a place in his heart,” he said.
. Several hundred thousand pilgrims from St. John Paul II’s homeland, Poland, filled the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square for a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the Archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica, along with John Paul’s former secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Archbishop of Krakow, Poland. Another Mass for pilgrims from John XXIII’s native diocese of Bergamo, northern Italy, was celebrated in the Church of San Carlo al Corso, where the future Pope, Angelo Gisueppe Roncalli was ordained a priest on March 19, 1925. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Francesco Beschi of Bergamo.
In his homily, Cardinal Comastri noted that the canonization of St. John Paul II, the ‘pope of the family’, was a necessary gift in an age when the family was under attack and threatened. He noted that the "defense of human life" was at the heart of his preaching and action, and cited several quotes including his famous “cry of Agrigento” in southern Italy denouncing Mafia atrocities. Cardinal Comastri also recalled John Paul’s vigorous efforts in trying to prevent the Gulf War.
At the start of the Mass, Cardinal Dziwisz greeted his fellow nationals in Polish, describing St. John Paul ‘a son of the Poland and the Pope of Divine Mercy,” who put into practice the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and also launched the Christian faith into the third millennium. Cardinal Dziwisz, who served Karol Woytyla for some 40 years from before he became Pope John Paul II, also noted that for him Italy had become a second homeland. “Surely today John Paul II is blessing Italy as well as Poland and the entire world from above. All nations, cultures and languages have found a place in his heart,” he said.
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