The force of memory

Upon his arrival in Romania, May 7 1999, John Paul II said: "I am here to pay homage to the Romanian people". Ten years later the Romanian people pay homage to the deceased Pontiff with a number of initiatives celebrating the memory of that historical event, as it was the first time that a Pope made an apostolic journey to an Orthodox-majority country. "I have come here to thank with you the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who after years of suffering has allowed this noble nation to sing the praises of God in freedom", His Holiness said ten years ago in his address to the Bishops of Romania. For this occasion, the Catholic Church, in conjunction with the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Academy of Romania – which John Paul II was an honorary member of since 2001 – set up a special timetable from May 7 to 9. On May 7, a photo exhibit dedicated to the Polish Pope and to his visit to Romania was inaugurated in Bucharest, near the seat of the Academy, that includes the shots taken by Arturo Mari, the Pope’s official photographer for 27 years, who on the occasion presented the book "Farewell – till we meet in paradise". An album on the St. Joseph Cathedral in Bucharest issued in four languages (Romanian, English, French, Italian) and the book "John Paul II – a Holy Pope" by Nicolae Mares were also presented on the occasion. The Academy was the venue of a symposium presided over by Orthodox Patriarch Daniel, a representative of Romanian President Traian Basescu, and the Metropolitan archbishop of Bucharest Ioan Robu. In the evening, the Chamber Orchestra directed by Aurelian Octav Popa performed a concert in the Catholic cathedral of Saint Joseph.Under the banner of ecumenism. On May 7 photo exhibitions of John Paul II and his apostolic journey to Romania were inaugurated across eight cities: Blaj, Bistrita, Cluj, Iasi, Roman, Onesti, Bacau and Costanza. On May 8 the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate held a "Meeting to the light of the Resurrection" in Bucharest. Panellists included the envoy of Benedict XVI, archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with the States, archbishop Robu from Bucharest, President Basescu, and the founder of the Saint Egidio Community Andrea Riccardi. On the morning of May 9, the Greek-Catholic church organised a pilgrimage to the Catholic cemetery in Bucharest, to the tombs of martyr bishops to whom John Paul II had devoted his prayers. In his address to the Bishops’ Conference the Pontiff described them as the "Illustrious disciples of Christ, victims of a regime which, hostile to God because of its atheism, also trampled on human beings made in the image of God". A prayer for the deceased was recited in the Patriarchate’s Orthodox Cathedral, dedicated to the two protagonists of the event of ten years ago: John Paul II and the then Romanian Orthodox Patriarch Teoctist. "We must all do what we can with an open heart and perseverance, in both theological and practical dialogue with the other Churches and Christian communities, seeing as our goal the unity of all Christ’s disciples", were Wojtyla’s words to the bishops regarding ecumenism. The celebration was attended also by the Romanian bishops of Latin and Greek-Catholic rite (a diversity of rites within the same community, that John Paul II had always described as a source of richness), along with archbishops Francisco-Javier Lozano, Apostolic nuncio in Romania, and Mamberti. A similar initiative was staged in the evening with the Requiem Mass for the two deceased personalities, officiated by Mamberti in St.Joseph’s cathedral. Orthodox patriarch Daniel attended the requiem also. A website and a gathering of the youth. Finally, on May 7 was activated a website dedicated to the tenth anniversary since the visit of John Paul II, www.papainromania.ro. While on May 16 the youth from the archdiocese of Bucharest will meet in the capital city to evoke the visit of the Polish Pope who explicitly referred to the youth in his address to the bishops: "A fundamental challenge is presenting the faith to the new generation. Statistically speaking, Romania is a relatively "young" country. Unfortunately, young people today are encountering new problems, which hinder and undermine their educational growth. It is important for the Church to support the role of parents, the first teachers of their children, and to make her own specific contribution, especially that of catechesis and religious instruction".