When a Pope Asks Forgiveness

...We should always forgive,
remembering that we too are in need of forgiveness.
We need to be forgiven much more often than we need to forgive.
(Pope John Paul II – Opening of the Synod of Europe,
St. Peter’s, November 28, 1991)

When a Pope asks Forgiveness is a beautiful and touching book on the Mea Culpa’s of John Paul II originally written in Italian by Luigi Accattoli, a Vatican correspondent, and translated into English by Jordan Aumann, OP. Although the book came out in circulation two years earlier, it became available here in the Philippines only recently when Paulines Publishing House published it locally.

The book reveals the many instances during the years of John Paul II’s pontificate where he consistently invites the Catholic Church to make an examination of conscience as the new millennium draws to a close. He calls on the need of a purification and healing of past memories on the part of the Church especially with regards to her treatment of women, of Indians, of the Blacks, of Galileo, the Jews and Muslims, the injustices of the Inquisition, schism and the papacy, wars and injustice. The author cites the Pope’s admission of Church’s guilt on these issues 94 times in various speeches he made during his pontificate.

John Paul II’s gesture of asking forgiveness for the Church’s shortcomings meets opposition from some of the Cardinals who are concerned that such an action will put the Church in a bad light. The apostolic letter, Tertio Millenio Adveniente, serves as a general response to this concern of the Cardinals, wherein the Pope emphasizes that the Church “cannot cross the threshold of the new millennium without encouraging her children to purify themselves, through repentance, of past errors and instances of infidelity, inconsistency, and slowness to act. Acknowledging the weaknesses of the past is an act of honesty and courage which helps us to strengthen our faith, which alerts us to face today’s temptations and challenges, and prepares us to meet them.”

Luigi Accattoli did a thorough research of the Pope’s writings and speeches. Many of the quotations found in the book that speaks of the Church’s need to ask for forgiveness are derived from the Pope’s published encyclicals and apostolic exhortations. Part One of the book analyzes the historical and ecumenical precedents of this admission of fault. On the part of the Catholic Church, the author mentions Pope Adrian VI (1522-1523) in his efforts to respond to the call for reform, and Pope Paul VI, who asks for forgiveness from the other Christian Churches. The writer also cites the ecumenical gesture on the part of the other Christian Churches such as the Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican.

The second part of the book contains the various pronouncements of the Pope on various topics such as religious wars, Inquisition, injustices, Islam, etcetera. In his various speeches on these issues, the Holy Father admits the Church’s culpability either in promoting an endeavor such as the Crusades in the name of faith, or for not making a stand or speaking up in the face of injustices.

As a whole, the book encourages us to reflect and examine our conscience as an individual, as people and as a Church. There is a call for each one of us to do an act of purification of memory to be able to start anew especially on this year of the jubilee. It is not an easy thing to ask forgiveness. To ask forgiveness means to acknowledge one is at fault. It is an act that requires a lot of honesty and humility on the part of the person. The example of the Pope is an inspiration other leader whether spiritual or civil can draw lessons from. When somebody who leads acknowledges his/her shortcomings with all honesty and humility, the person sets an example on the people he/she leads. The humility to ask forgiveness gives strength on the moral authority of the leader to lead.

Reading through the pages of the book is like looking at oneself through the mirror with a critical eye. One cannot help but be touched to the core and maybe shed a few tears on the realization that we are all part and parcel of this reality that make up the Church. We cannot deny that we are all responsible for each other’s actions because we are members of one body we call the Church.