OPENING OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF ECCLESIASTICAL UNIVERSITIES

HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II

Friday 25 October 2002

1. "Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face" (cf. Ps 23[24],6).

The words we have sung as the refrain to the responsorial psalm acquire a special meaning today, in this Basilica. Indeed, the rectors, professors and students of the Roman ecclesiastical universities have gathered here for the traditional celebration at the start of the new academic year.

CAPPELLA PAPALE FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF 6 SERVANTS OF GOD

HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II

World Mission Sunday
Sunday, 20 October 2002

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

1. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28,19).

The Risen Lord took his leave of the Apostles in this way before returning to the Father, "Go". His last word is an invitation to the mission, that is at the same time a promise, a testament and a duty. Christ entrusts his message of salvation to his disciples and asks them to spread it and to witness to it to the ends of the earth.

VISIT OF HIS BEATITUDE TEOCTIST,
PATRIARCH OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ROMANIA

HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II

Sunday, 13 October 2002

The Holy Father introduced Patriarch Teoctist to the faithful who then addressed the Pope and the faithful at the Mass. Here is a translation of the Pope's words.

Today our liturgical assembly has the great joy of welcoming our beloved Brother, H.B. Teoctist, Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Romania. His visit fills us with great hope; he is here to direct his fervent prayers, as we do, to the one Lord Jesus Christ for the full unity of all Christians.

CANONIZATION OF ST JOSEMARÍA ESCRIVÁ DE BALAGUER

HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II

Sunday, 6 October 2002

1. "All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Rom 8,14). These words of the Apostle Paul, which we have just heard, help us understand better the significant message of today's canonization of Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. With docility he allowed himself to be led by the Spirit, convinced that only in this way can one fully accomplish God's will.

ECUMENICAL CELEBRATION OF VESPERS ON THE SEVENTH CENTENARY
OF THE BIRTH OF ST BRIDGET OF SWEDEN CO-PATRONNESS OF EUROPE

HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II

Friday 4 October 2002

1. "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him cruciied" (I Cor 2,2). The Apostle Paul's words that rang out during this ecumenical celebration found a special echo in the activity and mystical experience of St Bridget of Sweden; this evening we observe the seventh centenary of her birth.

In the different stages of her life, that saw her first as wife, mother and educator of her children, then as widow, and, finally, as foundress of a new form of consecrated life, the saint was constantly inspired by the mystery of Christ's passion and death. She never tired of contemplating the face of the Crucified One.

FUNERAL MASS FOR CARDINAL FRANÇOIS-XAVIER NGUYÊN VAN THUÂN

HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II

Friday 20 September 2002

1. "Their hope is full of immortality" (Wis 3,4).

These consoling words from the Book of Wisdom invite us, in the light of hope, to offer our prayers of suffrage for the elect soul of the late Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân, who lived his whole life under the banner of hope.

Certainly, his death saddens all who knew and loved him:  his relatives, especially his mother, to whom I renew my expression of affectionate closeness. I think of the beloved Church in Vietnam, who generated him to the faith; and I also think of all the Vietnamese people, whom the venerable Cardinal expressly remembered in his spiritual testament, saying that he had always loved them. The Holy See mourns Cardinal Van Thuân; he spent his last years in its service, as Vice President and then President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

APOSTOLIC VOYAGE TO POLAND

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION

HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER JOHN PAUL II

Kalwaria, 19 August 2002

"Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
Our life, our sweetness and our hope!"

Dear Brothers and Sisters.

1. Today I come to this Shrine as a pilgrim, as I used to come when I was a child and as a young man. I come before Our Lady of Calvary as I used to come as Bishop of Kraków to entrust to her the problems of the Archdiocese and of those whom God had entrusted to my pastoral care. I come here and, now as then, I repeat: Hail, Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!

APOSTOLIC VOYAGE TO POLAND

DEDICATION OF THE SHRINE OF DIVINE MERCY

HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER JOHN PAUL II

Kraków-Łagiewniki, 17 August 2002

"O inconceivable and unfathomable Mercy of God,
Who can worthily adore you and sing your praises?
O greatest attribute of God Almighty,
You are the sweet hope of sinners"
(Diary, 951).

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. Today I repeat these simple and straightforward words of Saint Faustina, in order to join her and all of you in adoring the inconceivable and unfathomable mystery of God’s mercy. Like Saint Faustina, we wish to proclaim that apart from the mercy of God there is no other source of hope for mankind. We desire to repeat with faith: Jesus, I trust in you!

APOSTOLIC VISIT TO TORONTO,
TO CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA AND TO CIUDAD DE MÉXICO

BEATIFICATION OF JUAN BATTISTA AND JACINTO DE LOS ÁNGELES

HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER JOHN PAUL II

Mexico City, Thursday August 1, 2002

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness'sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:10). In the Gospel Beatitudes, we find this final exhortation not to be discouraged at the persecutions which the Church has faced from the very beginning. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promises true happiness to those who are poor in spirit, who mourn or who are meek; and also to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, who act with mercy or are pure of heart.