[Apologetics] Newt Gingrich: The Day of Four Popes
Art Kelly
art.kelly at cox.net
Fri May 2 20:08:54 EDT 2014
The Day of Four Popes
----- Original Message -----
From: Newt Gingrich
To: art.kelly at cox.net
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2014 7:57 PM
Subject: The Day of Four Popes
Is this email not displaying correctly?View it in your browser.
The Day of Four Popes
Callista and I returned earlier this week from Rome where we attended the canonization Mass in Saint Peter’s Square of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II celebrated by Pope Francis and attended by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
It was the first time two popes have been canonized together and the first time two popes have appeared together at a canonization.
It was an extraordinary global event. In Rome, more than 800,000 pilgrims from around the world attended, many of whom watched the Mass on large television screens set up around the city. Worldwide, it’s estimated that hundreds of millions people watched on TV.
It was also an extraordinary day in the life of the Catholic Church. The “day of the four popes" encapsulated -- in a single day -- the previous fifty-six years of Catholic Church history, a time of renewal and continuity that has had an extraordinarily positive impact on the world.
The Second Vatican Council and Pope John XXIII
It is impossible to understand the significance of the canonization of these two new saints without some understanding of the Second Vatican Council (Oct 1962-Dec. 1965) and the role it has played in the life of the Church since 1965.
On October 28, 1958 - the beginning of a brief 56-year look back in Catholic Church history -- the Cardinals of the Catholic Church elected on the eleventh ballot Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the 76-year-old Cardinal Archbishop of Venice. It is believed the Cardinals settled on a compromise candidate, an older churchman whom many believed would serve as a transitional figure for what would likely be a relatively short reign.
But the new Pope John XXIII declined to play a passive role. Less than three months after his election, the new Pope called for the convening of a new ecumenical council of bishops worldwide, the first in nearly 100 years and only the 21st such council in the nearly 2000 year life of the Catholic Church.
In the context of American political and constitutional life, the closest analogy to such a wide-open examination of the future would be if two thirds of the state legislatures in the United States convened a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. Because nobody can anticipate what such a wide-open constitutional convention might do to refashion our constitutional system, most politicians are fearful to support such an action. As a result, no such convention has ever been convened in our 226 years under the Constitution.
In fact, fear was indeed the reaction of many church leaders to Pope John XXIII’s calling of an ecumenical Council. Cardinal Montini, the future Pope Paul VI, who succeeded Pope John XXIII when he died in the middle of the council in June 1963, is reported to have said to a friend at the time "this holy boy doesn't realize what a hornet's nest he's stirring up."
But Pope John XXIII would have none of this fear. He was convinced of the need in the Catholic Church for, as he put it, an “aggiornamento”, or a “bringing up to date.”
In preliminary discussions about the Council, Pope John XXIII said that he wanted to "open the windows of the church to let in some fresh air."
For Pope John XIII, the Council was not about “modernizing” the Church per se; it was rather about bringing the unchanging truth of the Gospels to the modern world in a more effective manner. In his speech opening up the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII said: “The greatest concern of the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine should be guarded and taught more efficaciously.”
In part for his fearlessness in convening the Second Vatican Council so that the Catholic Church might renew its evangelical mission, the Church has now declared John XXIII a saint of the Church.
The Second Vatican Council and Pope John Paul II
Without Saint John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, it is hard to believe we ever would have had Pope John Paul II. It is no wonder why Saints John XXIII and John Paul II were canonized together; they are the two great figures of the Second Vatican Council.
Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II, was a young 42-year-old Polish Bishop at the start of Vatican II. He made several important contributions to the work of the Council and later, in Krakow, oversaw the implementation of Vatican II reforms.
Upon his election, Pope John Paul II chose the name of his immediate predecessor Pope John Paul, to identify the continuity of the two previous popes (John XXIII and Paul VI) who opened and closed, respectively, the Second Vatican Council.
During his 26-year reign, Pope John Paul II became the Council’s great implementer.
Indeed, in his travels to over 100 countries and in his teaching mission with all that he wrote and said, Pope John Paul II demonstrated the evangelical reach of the Catholic Church, which Pope John XXIII envisioned with his call for the Second Vatican Council.
It was in particular Pope John Paul II’s simple call for the faithful to “not be afraid” and to “open wide the doors to Christ” that probably had the most far-reaching and dramatic impact. Ten years after he preached this message during his first pilgrimage to Poland in June 1979, the Berlin Wall came tumbling down. Two years later the Soviet Union itself disintegrated. (This is a story we tell in our documentary film Nine Days that Changed the World.)
During his homily at Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger captured the simple essence of Pope John Paul II: “The love of Christ was the dominant force in the life of our beloved Holy Father. Anyone who ever saw him pray, who ever heard him preach, knows that. Thanks to his being profoundly rooted in Christ, he was able to bear a burden which transcends merely human abilities: that of being the shepherd of Christ’s flock, his universal Church.”
It was something that the four million people who flooded Rome for the funeral knew as well, which is why they chanted and held signs reading: “Santo Subito” (“Sainthood Now”).
Popes Benedict XVI and Francis
One of the most moving moments during the canonization Mass was to see Pope Francis greet Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. It was a historic moment to be sure, but it was also a moment of warm fraternal affection and unity.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was a long time collaborator with Pope John Paul II and later his successor. And it was Pope Benedict XVI who waived for John Paul II the normal five-year waiting period before a cause of canonization can start.
Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to resign as Pope in 2013 was an extraordinary act of humility.
It paved the way for Pope Francis from Argentina. We now have had three non-Italian popes in a row.
In reflecting on his own election, Pope John Paul II believed that there must have been something about his experience in Poland, which was of service to the universal Church.
I wonder today if Pope Francis doesn’t believe something similar, that there is something about his experience in Argentina, and as a Jesuit, that is to be of service to the universal Church.
It is still early in his pontificate, but I believe it will become clearer and clearer that the Argentina life experiences of Pope Francis will be of tremendous service to the world in his role as Pope.
And nobody should forget that it was Pope Francis’ decision to canonize these two new saints and to do so together. It was a powerful statement about the holiness of these two men and the importance of the Second Vatican Council.
Saint Peter’s Square and Sainthood
The other big impression from our attending the canonization Mass is just how enjoyable it was to be among people from literally all over the world who were joined together by our common faith.
The Mass took place very near the spot where it is believed that Saint Peter himself was martyred by imperial Roman authorities.
And today Saint Peter’s Basilica and Square is surrounded by statues of saints, who lived their lives in extraordinary conformity to God’s love working in their lives. As Father Jonathan Barron recently commented, the Church “exists for one purpose, to produce saints, to make us holy”.
In this sense, it was quite a special day for Callista and me to be in Rome and witness this joyful celebration in the life of the Catholic Church.
Your Friend,
Newt
P.S. Autographed copies of Callista's new children's book, Yankee Doodle Dandy, and my new book, Breakout: Pioneers of the Future, Prison Guards of the Past, and the Epic Battle That Will Decide America’s Fate are now available in the Gingrich Productions store. Order both books today!
Click here to order autographed copies of
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Click here to order autographed copies of
Breakout
Jump to Newt and Callista's Weekly Recap
--------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S SPONSOR
--------------------------------------------------------
Forward to a Friend
Newt and Callista Attend Canonization of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII
This weekend, Newt and Callista were in Rome to attend the canonization of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII. Newt covered the event live from St. Peter's Square for CNN. Prior to the canonization on Sunday, Newt and Callista also attended a special Newsmax dinner with former Polish President Lech Walesa. During the dinner, both Newt and President Walesa offered remarks about the profound impact both popes had on the world.
a.. Article: At Twin Pope Canonizations, Newt Gingrich Call Pope Francis A Man Of The People
b.. Article: Walesa, Gingrich: 2 Popes Changed the World
c.. Article: Popes John XXIII and John Paul II Proclaimed Saints in Historic Canonization
--------------------------------------------------
And Then What Happens?
“And then what happens?” may be the most important question any would-be strategist can learn. In Wednesday's newsletter, Newt says it is disheartening and very worrisome to watch our foreign policy elites in both the Democratic and Republican parties bounce from slogan to slogan and tactic to tactic with no serious strategy, no effort to place specific policies in a 21st century global framework. He says that until we can learn to think strategically enough to ask, “And then what happens?” we will continue to bounce from tactic to tactic as we squander away our strengths with little positive impact.
Read more here>>
--------------------------------------------------
Sell the Clippers to the People
Even before the NBA announced it was banning Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling from the league for life, sports fans had begun speculating about which billionaire would swoop in to buy the team. In a CNN op-ed this week, Newt proposes a new solution: sell the team to the people, to thousands of fans themselves, as shareholders, a model similar to the one used by the Green Bay Packers.
Read more here>>
--------------------------------------------------
Yankee Doodle Dandy
Ellis the Elephant returns to discover the American Revolution in Yankee Doodle Dandy! Authored by Callista Gingrich and illustrated by Susan Arciero, Yankee Doodle Dandy educates and entertains as Ellis the Elephant experiences the American Revolution. With beautiful illustrations and charming rhymes, Yankee Doodle Dandy is a must read for young and old alike who want to know how America became a free and independent nation.
Order autographed copies here>>
Learn about Yankee Doodle Dandy and view Ellis activities, resources, and events at www.EllistheElephant.com.
--------------------------------------------------
Breakout
Americans don’t have to settle for a shrunken future. We can reach an America that is freer, more prosperous, and with real opportunity for all. Newt's new book Breakout outlines how amazing breakthroughs in learning, health, energy, transportation, and even government could power a breakout for America, delivering us to a dramatically better, richer, healthier, and more convenient world. But to get there, as he explains, we will have to dethrone the prison guards who aim to keep us trapped in the past. Order autographed copies here>>
--------------------------------------------------
Visit Our Store
Visit the Gingrich Productions store today to find great gifts, including books, DVDs, audio CDs, and more.
Click here to visit our store now>>
--------------------------------------------------
follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend
Copyright © 2014 Gingrich Productions, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in at GingrichProductions.com
Gingrich Productions
4501 North Fairfax Drive
Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22203
Add us to your address book
unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gathman.org/pipermail/apologetics/attachments/20140502/24f2de69/attachment.html>
More information about the Apologetics
mailing list