His relationship to those of other faiths is the most significant part Pope John Paul II’s legacy, says one Catholic. What one part of JPII’s legacy is most significant to you?
Since his childhood, which was spent alongside his Jewish sisters and brothers in Poland, John Paul II had a special recognition not only for other Christian communities, but for all religious communities. At the very first World Day of Peace in 1986, organized by John Paul II, he welcomed 160 religious leaders from 43 Christian and non-Christian groups. They arrived as distinct representatives of their religious communities, but participated as one congregation of the faithful, sharing their faiths and their traditions to enrich all and celebrating together a profound moment of solidarity in prayer. After the horrors of September 11, 2001, he again called members of all these faith communities – and more – to come together and to pray for peace and understanding, with the true knowledge that religion is not a reason for violence, and that we are all members of the same “universal” (see: Catholic) church, regardless of whether we pray in a mosque or church or temple or field
—Nick Masero, @OneloveSJF, Coordinator of Pastoral Care, Social Outreach and Youth at St. John Fisher Parish, Palos Verdes, California
Read more about Pope John Paul II at https://www.uscatholic.org/jp2.
What one part of JPII’s legacy is most significant to you? Email a short response toonlineeditor@uscatholic.org. Guest blog posts express the views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of U.S. Catholic, its editors, or the Claretians.
