Gulf Pine Catholic

14 Gulf Pine Catholic • March 1, 2024 In Pascagoula, George Weigel reflects on the life of the ‘pope from Galilee’ BY CHRIS SPEAR Author and theologian George Weigel visited Our Lady of Victories parish on February 21 to reflect on the accomplish- ments of St. Pope John Paul II, nearly two decades after his death in April 2005. Wei- gel, whose two-volume biography of the pope remains an international bestseller, is the author of more than thirty other books, including Letters to a Young Catholic , Ro- man Pilgrimage: The Station Churches , Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st-Century Church , and Lessons in Hope . Weigel framed the discussion in Pas- cagoula by reviewing the internation situ- ation of the Church in late 1978, when John Paul II began his papacy. Differing interpretations of Vatican II were creating a ecclesiastical civil war, with Catholics’ attention and energy turned inwards rather than outwards towards evangelical mis- sion. The Sexual Revolution and rejection of traditional authority had, as the author put it, “torn great holes in the fabric of humanity.” Seminaries and women’s re- ligious orders were emptying rapidly, and the Church seemed to have nothing no- table to say to these upheavals. Pope John Paul II, Weigel suggested, had stepped in and stopped many of these declines, often reversing them. One of his most notable accomplish- ments began in June 1979, less than a year into his papacy, when he made his first pilgrimage home to Poland. There, Weigel attests, he helped ignite the consciences of his countrymen laboring under an atheistic communist state. John Paul’s 1979 inspi- ration led directly to the birth of the Soli- darity movement, which was ultimately the key to the first free and peaceful demo- cratic elections within the Soviet sphere ten years later. Those Polish elections, along with other John Paul-encouraged movements in nearby countries, helped topple communism in Europe without the blood- shed of the world wars or Russian Revolution. His Theology of the Body was a strong, fully Chris- tian response to the Sexual Revolution, re-emphasizing timeless truths about married love and its ultimate re- flection in the life-giving relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The pope also paid close attention to sub-SaharanAfrica, where Catholicism was growing by leaps and bounds and local bishops were becoming an influential voice in world affairs. Africa is expected to become the demographic center of global Catholicism by 2050. John Paul II also welcomed young adults into the Church, keying off his own youth ministry experience as a newly-ordained priest in Poland. His World Youth Days (WYD) have become an ongoing global phenom- enon, especially here in the United States after WYD 1993 in Denver. Weigel highlighted that American sem- inaries today are better than ever before, and the Fel- lowship of Catholic University Students is flourishing on campuses nationwide -- both direct results of John Paul’s efforts. To accomplish so much during his pa- pacy is due in part to the pope’s own unique personal gifts. But George Weigel affirmed in Pascagoula that St. John Paul II ac- complished more, and more deeply, as a “radically convinced Christian disciple.” His passion and prayer in following Jesus Christ inspired the French journalist André Frossard to tell others in 1978, “This is not a Pope from Poland; this is a Pope from Gali- lee.” Transitional Deacon Adam Frey serves at Our Lady of Victories and Resurrection High School. He found fresh perspectives on his seminary studies through Weigel’s work. “It was a real privilege to be able to attend this talk by George Weigel, a re- nowned Catholic theologian, and hear his take on how things transpired after Vatican II, especially under John Paul II,” he said. “While I was seminarian, a lot of our teach- ing was from Vatican II and prior, so it was very good to hear a different approach to... that foundation built in my formation.” Thomas Wixon, an instituted acolyte and parishioner of Our Lady of Victories, organized the lecture through his long- standing personal friendship with Weigel. “Thankfully we have the wisdom of George Weigel instilled from St. Pope John Paul II to encourage future generations,” he said. “I consider George as a ‘second-class relic’ from St. John Paul II, and he continues to pass on the truth of our Catholic faith in his lectures and with his books.” Adam Chapman teaches Theology at -- appropriately enough -- Pope John Paul II High School in Slidell. “I got Mr. Weigel’s book when I was about 17 or 18 as a Christ- mas present...His narrative of John Paul, who was the original person who had a pro- found influence on my life, really made me incredibly interested in politics, public life, and the relationship between our Catholic faith and the modern world.” Chapman, who is a native of Pascagoula, enjoyed being back on the Coast to meet one of his literary he- roes. “It was really exciting for me to meet Weigel. For me, this is better than meeting Taylor Swift.” George Weigel’s website is www.georgeweigel.com . George Weigel speaks at Our Lady of Victories Church in Pascagoula. Photo/Chris Spear George Weigel autographs one of his books for Adam Chapman. Photo/Chris Spear To advertise in the Gulf Pine Catholic, call 228-702-2109 for more information.