A feast of faith

The fraternal embrace between Pope Francis and his predecessor Benedict XVI; an intense, heartfelt liturgical celebration; the prayers and the vibrant applause of the crowd: 800 thousand faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, arrived from all corners of Europe and world countries. It was the first time, in the Church’s 2000-year history, that two Popes co-celebrated a canonization ceremony that proclaimed saints other two Pontiffs: John XXIII and John Paul II. An event of global attraction. On Sunday April 27, renamed by the media the Day of the Four Popes – will pass down in history for Joseph Ratzinger’s decision to accept the invitation of his successor, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, to attend the canonization rite along with 850 co-celebrating cardinal and bishops. The image of the two Popes embracing, under the banners of the two neo-Saints displayed on the façade of the Basilica, immediately reached a worldwide audience, shared on social networks and followed by 2259 accredited journalists who reported on the event, broadcast in 3D throughout the world by the Vatican’s Television Centre. (CTV). In his homily Pope Francis highlighted the contemporary relevance of the two Popes. He described John XXIII as the Saint of “delicate docility of the Holy Spirit” and John Paul II the Saint of the family, a sentinel guarding over the next Synod from the Heavens. Solemn announcement. At 10.15 Pope Francis pronounced the solemn canonization formula in Latin: “we declare and define Blessed John XXIII John Paul II Saints and we enrol them among the Saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church”. The Popes raised to the honours of the altar in the two thousand year history of the Church are now 82. The two Popes were both fond of Rome, and Rome – which for a day became “the capital of the world”, with faithful and pilgrims arriving from all corners of the world and with all means, many of whom took part in the vigil organized by the dioceses in the churches of Rome’s historical centre – reciprocated with an heartfelt embrace, which crossed all borders, despite the cold and the rain, which is unusual for Rome in this season: no less than 800 thousand faithful attended the Mass. A “human cordon” from Saint Peter’s Square winded it way through via della Conciliazione to the banks of the Tiber, extending beyond Castel Sant’Angelo. “Witnesses to God’s goodness”. “These were two men of courage”, said Pope Francis of his two predecessors in a powerful homily received with full attention by the faithful, in harmony with the sobriety, simplicity, in an atmosphere of quasi surreal silence, that characterised the entire liturgy. “John XXIII and John Paul II were not afraid to look upon the wounds of Jesus”, exclaimed the Holy Father. “These were two men of courage, filled with the parrhesia of the Holy Spirit, and they bore witness before the Church and the world to God’s goodness and mercy”. “They were priests, bishops and popes of the twentieth century”, the Pope continued: “They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them. John XXIII and John Paul II cooperated with the Holy Spirit in renewing and updating the Church in keeping with her pristine features”. For “it is the saints who give direction and growth to the Church”. Received and returned gifts. “Hope” and “joy” were gifts received by “two holy Popes from the risen Lord”, Francis said, “which they in turn bestowed in abundance upon the People of God, meriting our eternal gratitude”. John XXIII, for Francis, has been for the Church “a pastor, a servant-leader”: “he was the pope of openness to the Spirit”. John Paul II “was the pope of the family”. “He himself once said that he wanted to be remembered as the pope of the family”. The Pope went on: “I am particularly happy to point this out as we are in the process of journeying with families towards the Synod on the family. It is surely a journey which, from his place in heaven, he guides and sustains”.