Sunday 9 November 2014

BREAKING NEWS: Pope Francis speaks of "the holy Pope John Paul"; his role in overthrowing the Berlin Wall

From today's Angelus - November 9, 2014. These words by the Holy Father have been carefully edited - incorrectly - by the Holy See Press Office. You will not see them in English. 

Twenty five years ago, on 9 November 1989 the Berlin Wall fell, which for so long divided the city into two parts and was a symbol of the ideological division of Europe and the world. The fall was unexpected, but it was made possible by the long and arduous efforts of many people who fought for it, prayed and suffered, some of them even to the sacrifice of his own life. A special (or notable)  role was played in all this by the holy Pope John Paul II*. Let us pray to God for help and cooperation of all people of good will to increasingly disseminate the culture of community, able to overthrow all divisions, that still divide the world, that no more innocent people were persecuted and even killed because of their beliefs and professed religion. Where is a wall, there is also there the closure of the heart. Bridges are needed, not walls!

(trans. Barona)

*: The Holy See Press Office has this incorrectly translated as it as "St. John Paul II". Wrong. Absolutely wrong.The Polish is distinct: the Supreme Pontiff referred to the sainted Pope as "the holy Pope John Pual II". What does this mean? It infers that Pope Francis is referring to our saint as a "holy man"; not referring to a future event of canonization. In other words: John Pual is holy : and his works are holy. Especially as "pope of the family" (e.g. Familiaris consorio). 

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