Father Thomas Rosica: St John Paul II lived the mercy of God

(Vatican Radio) What is it like to know a saint personally? “I knew that something was in this man that was extraordinary,” says Father Thomas Rosica of Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, speaking of Pope Saint John Paul II. “This was a man… who I was pretty clear, pretty certain that he lived with God, and he lived with us. And you knew that you were talking to somebody, but there was something much greater that was taking place.”

Chosen by the Canadian Bishops as National Director and CEO for World Youth Day 2002, Father Rosica met Saint John Paul II many times, and worked closely with him, especially during the Holy Father’s visit to Toronto. “As Pope [John Paul] came three times to Canada, three very historic visits – the longest visit that he made as Pope, the longest pastoral visit… was in Canada in 1984. It was ten full days, from sea to sea to sea, from coast to coast. Extraordinary visit. Many people say that that visit united Canada, that Canadians got to discover Canada because of the massive television coverage.”

In his new book, “A Saint for Canada” Father Rosica, reflects on his experiences with Saint John Paul II. In Rome working for the Holy See Press Office for the Canonizations, Father Rosica took time to visit Vatican Radio to share his recollection of a modern Saint.

“I knew that something was in this man that was extraordinary,” he said. “This was a man … who I was pretty clear, pretty certain that he lived with God, and he lived with us. And you knew that you were talking to somebody, but there was something much greater that was taking place.”

Father Rosica remembered Pope John Paul as “a man who was in this constant dialogue with God. He was the pope of holiness. And the second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium, gave a great emphasis to holiness, and the call to holiness extended to everyone. And it’s very important that we see this call embodied in a person’s life.”

But this does not mean that everything about the Pope’s life was perfect, Father Rosica said. Canonization and holiness, he explained, “is not some kind of perfection that erases all kinds of faults and errors. The first requirement to be a saint in the Church is you have to be a sinner – but a sinner who recognizes the power of God’s mercy and forgiveness, and lives in that experience.”

Canonization and beatification, he said, are not the Church’s “good housekeeping” seal of approval. “That’s not the purpose of canonization, he explained. “The purpose of canonization is this man had a quest, a thirst for God. He recognized God’s powerful mercy, he let that mercy invade him and occupy him and become the primary motivating force of his life. And that person becomes a role model for others.”

Listen to the full interview of Father Thomas Rosica with Christopher Wells: