“John Paul II – servant of mercy” is the slogan of the 6th Pontifical Day to be celebrated in Poland on 15 October, to mark the 28th anniversary of the election of Karol Wojtyla as Pope. “John Paul II – write the Polish bishops in a letter issued on 8 October – was not only the spokesman of the truth about mercy. He himself became the genuine servant of mercy; he often spoke of mercy and he practised it. The most significant example of this is his meeting with Ali Agca”. “Human dignity – continues the letter – is threatened by the lack of merciful love. Contemporary man faces two threats in particular: the temptation of total independence from God, in other words blindness to his merciful love, and selfishness, i.e. indifference to our neighbour”. To the question “what can save human dignity?” the Polish bishops reply: “Merciful love and the civilization of love, as called for by John Paul II. Mercy is a gift for man. We need to experience the merciful love of God to be able to transfer it to others”. These concepts were fully expressed by John Paul II in his books. Major fruits of the pontificate of John Paul II were the rebirth of Polish Caritas and the New Millennium Charitable Foundation. “Let us share love, that is the appeal of the Pontifical Days which ought to accompany us in our everyday life”, conclude the bishops. The Pontifical Day has been celebrated in Poland since 2001 and is organized by the New Millennium Charitable Foundation.
