Pilgrimage to Canada: Youth, Faith, and the Pope Introduction

Transcription

1 Pilgrimage to Canada: Youth, Faith, and the Pope Introduction Focus In July 2002, hundreds of thousands of young Roman Catholics from around the world descended on Toronto to celebrate World Youth Day with their spiritual leader, Pope John Paul II. This News in Review report examines the events and significance of this religious encounter, the life and times of the Pope, and some of the critical challenges the Catholic Church confronts in the new millennium. On Tuesday, July 23, 2002, Pope John Paul II landed at Toronto s Pearson Airport to begin his week-long visit to Canada as part of the Catholic Church s 15th annual World Youth Day. Along with the pontiff himself, hundreds of thousands of young believers from all over the world arrived in Toronto to participate in a week of spiritual renewal and testimony to their faith. The events of World Youth Day began with a welcome mass led by Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, Archbishop of Toronto. Two days later, the Pope left his retreat at Strawberry Island, north of Toronto, to receive a tumultuous welcome from his youthful followers at Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto. On Friday, the centre of the city was taken over by thousands of pilgrims who re-enacted the Way of the Cross, commemorating the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This solemn procession attracted a huge number of bystanders, both pilgrims and local residents alike. The next day, the Pope met with a number of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Ontario Premier Ernie Eves, and Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman, before leading an evening prayer service at Downsview Park, a former air force base in the north of the city. Downsview was also the venue for the crowning and final event of World Youth Day, the Papal Mass on Sunday that attracted a crowd estimated at over people. On Monday, July 29, as the Pope departed for Mexico and Guatemala, Toronto s first-ever World Youth Day observances came to an end. It was an occasion both the throngs of young pilgrims and the residents of Toronto will not soon forget. Throughout this week of intense religious activity, involving the largest single group of visitors Toronto has ever hosted at one time, there was a great deal of public and media discussion about its significance for the young pilgrims. At a time when the appeal of organized religion is believed to be waning among the young, the deep spirituality and faith of the World Youth Day pilgrims challenged this notion. Considerable attention was given to the figure at the centre of the events, Pope John Paul II, the 82-yearold leader of the world s one billion Catholics, a physically ailing but still mentally vigorous religious figure. Would this be the Pope s last World Youth Day, given the precarious state of his health? What would his passing mean to the church he had led since 1978 with so much energy, firmness and determination? In addition to concerns about the Pope s condition, there were also larger issues facing the Roman Catholic Church that the events of World Youth Day brought into focus. In the months before the observances, the Church was reeling from a series of child-abuse allegations involving priests and other religious figures in the United States and other countries. There were strong demands that the Pope address this issue. Critics both within and outside Catholicism continued to raise objections to the Pope s steadfast resistance to any suggestions that women be ordained as priests, or that the Church modify its positions on birth control or homosexuality. At World Youth Day itself, Challenge to the Church, a CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 19

2 Further Research To add further perspective and detail to this story, the use of the following Web site is recommended: (the official Web site of the Holy See, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church in Vatican City, Rome). small but determined band of young Catholics critical of some of their Church s stands, took the opportunity to raise some of these issues. Despite such concerns and criticisms, however, World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto demonstrated to the city and the world the continuing appeal of the aging pontiff to his devoted young followers. When addressing the crowds, he was frequently interrupted by spontaneous chants of John Paul II, we love you! Attendance at the event was less than Church officials had anticipated, and the cost of organizing and staging World Youth Day left a deficit of some $30-million. However, it was clear that to hundreds of thousands of eager young people who had participated in the week-long observances, spirituality and religious faith were still matters of profound significance. The charismatic figure of Pope John Paul II continued to serve as their focus and inspiration. To Consider 1. Why was World Youth Day such an important event for Toronto and Canada? 2. What concerns about the future of the Roman Catholic Church were raised in the context of World Youth Day? 3. What are some of the major criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church that both believers and others have raised? 4. What is your personal reaction to observing some of the events of World Youth Day? CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 20

3 Pilgrimage to Canada: Youth, Faith, and the Pope Video Review For a detailed understanding of this story, watch the video and record answers to the questions on this and the next page. 1. In your own words, what is World Youth Day? 2. What did Rev. Thomas Rosica, the organizer of World Youth Day, say about the significance of the event? 3. Whose idea was World Youth Day? Where was the first one held? 4. When and where was the biggest World Youth Day held? 5. How many people attended this year s World Youth Day in Toronto? 6. What percentage of Canadian teens don t identify with any religion but still believe in some kind of God? % 7. What percentage of Canadians belong to the a) Muslim faith % and b) Jewish faith %? 8. What percentage of young Canadians do not believe in God? % 9. How many attended the Papal Mass at Downsview Park? 10. What important statement did the Pope make at this Mass? 11. Where is next year s World Youth Day to be held? 12. Why was World Youth Day sometimes compared to a rock concert? Do you think this is an accurate comparison? Why/why not? 13. What you think was the most important aspect of World Youth Day? CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 21

4 Watch the video and carefully note the viewpoints of the young people Ben Chin of the CBC interviewed about their attitudes toward God and religion. Reacting to Viewpoints 1. Kylie Ferguson, orthodox Catholic 2. Gwyneth Lonergan, progressive Catholic 3. Mandy Piper, raised as a Baptist 4. Syed Raza, Muslim 5. Sarah Babar-Nenzer, Jewish 6. Reuben Schwarz, atheist 1. With whom of the above do you most agree? Why? 2. With whom of the above do you most disagree? Why? Form small groups to discuss and summarize your reactions to the viewpoints of these young people, and compare and contrast them to your own. Use the following questions to help focus your inquiry and discussion: 1. What big questions are on the minds of the young people interviewed? 2. What are their views about the answers religions provide to these big questions? 3. Why is religion important to most of the young people interviewed? 4. What are the main questions, doubts, or criticisms that the young people have regarding their own religion or other faiths? 5. What are the views of the young people interviewed regarding the future of their religious beliefs (or lack of them)? As a group, develop your own reactions and responses to these questions and any other issues of importance arising from your discussion of the views of the young people Ben Chin interviewed in the video. Be prepared to share your thoughts with your peers. CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 22

5 Pilgrimage to Canada: Youth, Faith, and The Pope The Life, Times, and Influence of Pope John Paul II Childhood and Youth in Poland: On May 18, 1920, Karol Wojtyla, the son of an army officer and his wife, was born in the Polish village of Wadowice, near Krakow. He was a good student and was admitted to high school at the age of 10. In 1929 his mother died, and in 1932 his brother died, leaving him with just his father. Wojtyla excelled in high school and developed strong interests in languages, Polish history, philosophy, and drama. He enrolled in the Philosophy faculty of the prestigious Jagiellonian University in Krakow in 1938, and joined a small theatre company. He completed his compulsory military training in 1939, but was exempted from service in the army because he was a university student. On September 1, 1939, the armies of Nazi Germany invaded Poland, and Second World War erupted. The Trials of the Second World War: The Nazi occupation of Poland was harsh. Six million Poles out of a total population of 30 million died. Professionals, intellectuals, and people involved in religious or political activities, along with the country s substantial Jewish population, were especially targeted. Karol Wojtyla met Jan Tyranowski, a tailor and student of religion, who exerted a profound influence on his developing spirituality. He led a double life during the war, working as a stonecutter in a local quarry by day while participating in underground theatrical and political activities in the evening. On February 18, 1941, his father died, leaving a deep personal void in his life. One year later, he made the momentous decision to enter the priesthood, at a time when the Roman Catholic clergy in Poland were under Nazi persecution. Adam Stefan Sapieha, the Archbishop of Krakow, was very impressed with the young cleric, and encouraged him in his theological studies. In 1944, Wojtyla was struck by a German army truck and left to die. Fortunately, a woman in a nearby streetcar came to his aid and saved his life. Later that year he was admitted to the priesthood, and in early 1945 Russian troops liberated Krakow from the Nazi occupiers. Discussion 1 How would you characterize the future Pope John Paul II as a young person? What qualities marked him as a special individual during his youth? 2. How did the Nazi occupation affect Karol Wojtyla in particular? CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 23

6 A Priest in Postwar Poland: Shortly after the end of the Second World War the pro-soviet Polish Communist Party formed the government. Relations between the regime and the powerful Catholic Church were strained, especially after the imprisonment of Cardinal Wyszynski, a leading cleric. Between 1947 and 1949, Wojtyla studied theology in France, Belgium, Holland, and Italy, returning to earn a doctorate from Jagiellonian University. His thesis dealt with the life, times, and religious writings of the 16th-century Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross. Besides his pastoral responsibilities as a parish priest, he also taught courses in ethics and other subjects at universities in Krakow and, later, Lublin. In 1958, at the age of 38, he was ordained Bishop of Krakow in the city s magnificent Baroque Wawel Cathedral, becoming the youngest bishop in Poland. Prelude to the Papacy: Bishop Wojtyla s rise through the ranks of the Catholic hierarchy was rapid, as he impressed many with his intelligence, dedication, personal charisma, and commitment to his faith. He played a key role in the deliberations of the Second Vatican Council ( ) convened by Pope John XXIII to reform and modernize the Church, and he was ordained Archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and Cardinal in During this time, he urged Polish Catholics to preserve their faith in the face of opposition from the Communist regime while avoiding outright confrontation. After an uprising in 1956, more moderate Communist leaders came to power, and relations with the Church improved. As the leading Polish Catholic cleric, Cardinal Wojtyla, spent a great deal of time at the Vatican while also visiting many countries as a papal representative. In 1969, he toured Canada, where he met with local Polish communities in Toronto and other cities. In late 1970, the Solidarity movement, an alliance of workers, students, and others opposed to the Polish Communist regime, pressed for reforms. Cardinal Wojtyla lent his support to Solidarity, while refraining from endorsing any actions that might result in violent conflict. During the 1970s, he traveled, lectured, and published books on religious and philosophical issues. In August 1978, Pope Paul VI died, and was succeeded by John Paul I, an Italian cardinal. However, Pope John Paul I died suddenly in late September, and a second conclave of cardinals was convened at the Vatican to name yet another pope. Discussion 1. What was Karol Wojtyla s position as a Roman Catholic clergyman regarding the anti-religious policies of Poland s new Communist regime after the Second World War? 2. What qualities did Wojtyla bring to his religious activities that marked him as an individual destined to rise in the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church? CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 24

7 Did You Know... Pope John Paul II made two other trips to Canada, in 1984 and 1987? John Paul II, the New Pope: On October 16, 1978, a vast throng of people anxiously awaited the announcement of the new pope in St. Peter s Square, Rome. The cardinals chose Karol Wojtyla to assume the throne of St. Peter as the 264th pontiff. He became the first Polish pope, and the youngest in over a century. During his tenure, he established a number of important precedents. He was the first pope to preach in a Protestant church and a Muslim mosque, to visit a Jewish synagogue, and to lead joint prayer services with non-catholics in St. Peter s Basilica. He traveled to over 140 countries and has been seen in person by more people than any other figure in history. He addressed crowds of the faithful in their own languages, speaking eight fluently himself. His appointment coincided with the height of the Cold War, a period of serious tension and potential conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. Pope John Paul II s record as a staunch opponent of the Polish Communist regime made him a natural ally of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. In 1981 the Pope spoke out repeatedly against the imposition of martial law in his native country designed to crush the Solidarity movement. He encouraged local priests and other religious figures to engage in political action against the Communist regime. However, he strongly opposed similar political activism among Latin American Catholic clergy who embraced the doctrine of liberation theology, a combination of Christian and Marxist beliefs that championed the cause of the poor and justified opposition to capitalism. On May 13, 1981, while circling St. Peter s Square, Pope John Paul II was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt. A young Turkish man, Mehmet Ali Agca, was immediately seized and charged with attempted murder. There were allegations that Agca was an agent of the Bulgarian secret police, and that his attempt on the Pope s life was linked to John Paul II s anti-communism, but these charges were never substantiated. The Pope made a remarkable recovery from near-fatal wounds and resumed his normal papal responsibilities after a six-week convalescence. By the end of the 1980s the Cold War was over, as the communist regimes of Eastern Europe, and eventually the Soviet Union itself, collapsed. The Pope s role in these momentous events was crucial, as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and others attest. Discussion 1. Why was the Pope viewed as an ally of anti-communist forces led by the United States during the period of the Cold War? 2. Why do you think the Pope supported political activism among Roman Catholics in his native Poland, but not in other places, such as Latin America? CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 25

8 The Aging Pontiff: The Pope survived the attempt on his life, but the would-be assassin s bullet eventually took its toll, along with other ailments including a serious hip fracture and the onset of the debilitating Parkinson s disease. But declining health has done nothing to slow down the pace of his papal activities, and he continues to travel widely, preaching a mixture of conservative social values and an increasingly critical position regarding global economic issues. With the fall of communism, the Pope turned his attention to other issues, such as the growing gap between the world s rich and poor, the indebtedness of Third World nations, and the rising global influence of a materialistic North American culture that celebrates consumerism and immediate personal gratification. The Pope speaks out forcefully on these matters, gaining him some support among progressive social activists. But he also maintains his strongly conservative positions regarding any proposals for reform in the doctrines and hierarchy of the Church itself. He opposes the ordination of women to the priesthood, refuses to consider lifting the vow of celibacy by allowing priests to marry, and rejects any efforts to modify Catholicism s condemnation of birth control and homosexuality. At the same time, he strives to make the Church more relevant to young people, and in 1986 inaugurated the first World Youth Day in Rome. This annual observance of religious faith and commitment continues to attract huge crowds, reaching over two million in Rome in 2000 and in Toronto in As the Pope s health continues to decline, there is increasing speculation that he might consider retiring from his position to permit a new pontiff to succeed him while he is still alive. While there are historical precedents for such a move, no previous pope has ever voluntarily abdicated his office. Discussion 1. In what ways could the Pope be viewed as a critic of both communism and capitalism? Why are his positions on economic and social issues sometimes considered contradictory? 2. How has the Pope tried to make Catholicism more relevant to the world today, especially to young people? 3. In your view, should the Pope retire? Explain. CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 26

9 Pilgrimage to Canada: Youth, Faith, and the Pope The Papal Homily of July 28, 2002 Document Study This is an abridged version of the homily, or sermon, that Pope John Paul II delivered at the Papal Mass held at Downsview Park, in Toronto, on July 28, 2002, marking the culmination of the World Youth Day observances. His remarks were especially intended for the hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims in the crowd that day. You are the salt of the earth! You are the light of the world! Dear Young People of the Seventeenth World Youth Day, On a hillside near the lake of Galilee, Jesus disciples listened to his gentle and urgent voice, as gentle as the landscape of Galilee itself, as urgent as a call to choose between life and death, between truth and falsehood. The Lord spoke words of life that would echo forever in the hearts of his followers. Today he is speaking the same words to you, the young people.... Listen to the voice of Jesus in the depths of your hearts! His words tell you who you are as Christians. They tell you what you must do to remain in his love. But Jesus offers one thing, and the spirit of the world offers another... the spirit of the world offers many false illusions and parodies of happiness. There is perhaps no darkness deeper than the darkness that enters young people s souls when false prophets extinguish in them the light of faith and hope and love. The greatest deception, and the deepest source of unhappiness, is the illusion of finding life by excluding God, of finding freedom by excluding moral truths and personal responsibility. The Lord is calling you to choose between these two voices competing for your souls. That decision is the substance and challenge of World Youth Day.... the world you are entering is a world that desper- ately needs a new sense of brotherhood and human solidarity. It is a world that needs to be touched and healed by the beauty and richness of God s love. It needs witnesses to that love. The world needs salt. It needs you to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt is used to preserve and keep. As apostles for the Third Millennium, your task is to preserve and keep alive the awareness of the presence of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.... you must keep alive the memory of the words of life he spoke, the marvelous works of mercy and goodness he performed. You must constantly remind the world of the power of the Gospel to save. Salt seasons and improves the flavour of food. Following Jesus, you have to change and improve the taste of human history. With your faith, hope, and love, with your intelligence, courage, and perseverance, you have to humanize the world we live in.... Even a tiny flame lights the heavy lid of night. How much more light will you make, all together, if you bond as one in the communion of the Church. If you love Jesus, love the Church! Do not be discouraged by the sins and failings of some of her members. The harm done by some priests and religious among the young and vulnerable fills us all with a deep sense of sadness and shame. But think of the vast majority of dedicated and generous priests and religious whose only wish is to serve and do good! There are many priests, seminarians, and consecrated persons here today; be close to them CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 27

10 and support them! And if, in the depths of your hearts, you feel the same call to the priesthood or consecrated life, do not be afraid to follow Christ on the royal road of the Cross! At difficult moments in the Church s life, the pursuit of holiness becomes even more urgent. And holiness is not a question of age, it is a matter of living in the Holy Spirit.... You are young, and the Pope is old. Eighty-two or 83 years of life is not the same as 22 or 23. But the Pope still fully identifies with your hopes and aspirations. Although I have lived through much darkness, under harsh totalitarian regimes, I have seen enough evidence to be unshakably convinced that no difficulty, no fear is so great that it can completely suffocate the hope that springs eternal in the hearts of the young. You are our hope, the young are our hope. Do not let that hope die! Stake your lives on it! We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of our Father s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son. Document Analysis 1. What is the urgent call the Pope delivered to the young people hearing his homily at the Papal Mass held at Downsview Park? 2. What does the Pope mean by the phrase the spirit of the world? Why does he think young people should reject it in favour of the voice of Jesus Christ? 3. Why are the expressions the salt of the earth and the light of the world that the Pope employs in this homily so effective in conveying his message to young people? 4. To what recent scandal in the Catholic Church does the Pope briefly refer in this homily? What does he say to the young people about it? 5. In your own words, briefly summarize what you think are the most important points the Pope makes to young people in this homily. 6. Although the Pope s message is specifically directed at young Christians, what parts of it (if any) do you think could equally apply to young people who embrace other religious faiths (or none)? 7. Write a paragraph expressing your views on the Pope s message to young people and how you would respond to it. CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 28

11 Pilgrimage to Canada: Youth, Faith, and The Pope Point:Counterpoint Here is a selection of divergent opinions on the significance of World Youth Day, the Pope s visit to Canada, and current issues facing the Catholic Church, drawn from a variety of media commentators. Indicate whether you agree or disagree and why. 1. I don t think of those common adolescent bouts with religion as simply part of a phase of youthful idealism, which will inevitably vanish. I d call adolescence, instead, a privileged state in which you first grow aware that you are part of more than your family or peer group: you belong to your society, to history, even to the cosmos.... You realize you, too, can make your contribution. No wonder the Pope and other duffers say they are inspired by the youth ; it s so easy to lose the freshness of those connections. That s why I find the stress on the person of the Pope disturbing. It undermines that emergent adolescent sense of autonomy and control. It s no more attractive than any modern personality cult. Rick Salutin, columnist and broadcaster Agree Disagree Why? 2. Criticism that a church (any church) is out of step with modern values is particulary short-sighted. It s arrogant to assume that, having nosed our way into the 21st century, we ve suddenly reached the pinnacle of human understanding. It s a conceit to treat modern as an ultimate state, not just another word for the present. What s modern today may be obsolete tomorrow. Fashion, music, and cars reflect the constant changes and shifts required to stay up-to-date.... The Pope stands tall not because he changed, but because he s had the courage to remain constant. That s precisely why his message will remain relevant and have staying power. Guy Giorno, lawyer and former Conserative political advisor Agree Disagree Why? 3. It is hard to imagine anything more political... than the Catholic Church, which exercises enormous clout in the lives of people all over the world particularly women. It is an institution run by old men, most of them who seem to have an almost pathological determination to keep women out of positions of power, not to mention to deny them any kind of control over their reproductive capacities.... Linda McQuaig, political commentator Agree Disagree Why? CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 29

12 4. What makes hundreds of thousands of young people scream and weep over a sick old man? To some, the fuss over the Pope in Toronto is just a cult of personality, no more profound than the mass adoration of totalitarian dictators or overpaid rock stars. But that s obvious nonsense. No coercive state is forcing young people to worship the Pope. Nor are they drawn by simple stage presence. Whatever skill the Pope had as a performer has been sadly eroded by his ailments. No, the outpouring of affection is spontaneous, and wholly remarkable. No political leader, no musician or sports hero, can command such attention.... Everyone is drawn to true greatness, and John Paul II is quite simply the greatest man alive.... Long before he came to Canada, he had established himself as a figure of surpassing courage, vision, and humanity. Marcus Gee, columnist and broadcaster Agree Disagree Why? 5. As Supreme Pontiff John Paul has been one of the most paradoxical figures of the 20th century. A fierce champion of freedom, he has suppressed debate on controversial Church teachings. He has been an intensely political Pope supporting the Solidarity trade movement in Poland and stressing the dignity of men and women on the one hand, but forbidding priests in Latin America from engaging in politics. He wrote evocatively on women s equality and has been devoted to the Virgin Mary, but entrenched doctrine that says the Church does not have the authority to ordain women to the priesthood. Some see John Paul as a visionary; to others he is unbending and out of step in a changing world. Some focus on his teachings on sexual ethics, and have been alienated. But by rejecting his teachings outright, they miss his broader messages on justice, human rights, redistribution of wealth, rights of workers and clemency for prisoners, and his belief in the gifts found in God s boundless love. During a time marked by genocide and the threat of nuclear war, he preached and practised the virtue of forgiveness. Leslie Scrivener, faith and ethics reporter Agree Disagree Why? CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 30

13 Pilgrimage to Canada: Youth, Faith, and the Pope WebQuest Exploring the Roman Catholic Church through the Vatican Web Site Working with a partner or in small groups, consult the official Web site for the Holy See (Roman Catholic Church) at and prepare a brief written/oral report on the information you obtained from the site on one of the following topics: a) the organization and structure of the Church (e.g. the Roman Curia, College of Cardinals, etc.). b) Vatican City and St. Peter s Basilica c) history of the Roman Catholic Church d) biographies of past popes e) past World Youth Days f) statements of Pope John Paul II on major religious, ethical, and social issues g) the Vatican Museums, Library, and Secret Archives h) how a new pope is elected i) other (consult with your teacher) Before you start your WebQuest, be sure to establish the following with your teacher: due date length format evaluation criteria mark value Additional Notes: CBC News in Review September 2002 Page 31