Remembering Blessed John XXIII

Last evening in Rome, Pope Francis received pilgrims from the Diocese of Bergamo who had come to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the entry into the Father's House of one of their most illustrious sons: the now Blessed Pope John XXIII.  Pope Francis remembered his predecessor as a pastor and a father, whose whole life was lived under the sign and in the key of obedience and peace – words that would eventually become his episcopal motto. In fact, said Pope Francis, Pope John conveyed peace because he had a mind deeply at peace, the fruit of a long and challenging work on himself, an effort that has left abundant traces in [his autobiography], Journal of a Soul.”

 The Holy Father said, There we can see the seminarian, the priest, the bishop Roncalli struggling with the path to the gradual purification of the heart. We see him, day by day, careful to recognize and mortify the desires that come from his own selfishness, careful to discern the inspirations of the Lord.  Pope Francis went on to say that if peace was the outward hallmark, obedience constituted for [Pope John] the inner disposition: obedience, in fact, was the instrument with which to achieve peace.

Oboedientia et Pax

A memorial Mass was celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica, presided over by His Excellency, Francisco Breschi, Bishop of Bergamo.  When the liturgy was completed, the Holy Father prayed in silence before the mortal remains of Blessed John XXIII which are in a glass coffin on the main level of the Basilica, and then addressed the pilgrims, approximately 2,000 in number, who were present.

I would like to start from peace, because this is the most obvious aspect that people perceived in Pope John. Angelo Roncalli was a man capable of transmitting peace: a natural, serene, and friendly peace; a peace that he expressed to the entire world upon his election to the pontificate and received the reputation of goodness.

It is so wonderful to meet a priest, a good priest with goodness. The pontiff recalled the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola when he gave the Jesuits an entire list of virtues that a superior should have. But in the end he said: 'And if he doesn't have these virtues, let him at least have much goodness.' This is what's essential.

This was undoubtedly, continued the Pope, speaking of John XXIII, what distinguished his personality, that which enabled him to build strong friendships everywhere … often coming in contact with environments and worlds that were far removed from the Catholic universe in which he was born and formed. It was in precisely those spheres that he proved an effective weaver of relationships and a valuable promoter of unity, within and outside of the ecclesial community, open to dialogue with the Christians of other Churches, with proponents of the Jewish and Muslim worlds, and with many other men and women of good will.

Here, we come to the second and decisive word:'obedience' … In fact, it was the instrument for achieving peace. Firstly, it had a very simple and concrete meaning: carrying out, in the Church, the service that his superiors asked, without seeking anything for himself, without trying to get out of anything that was requested of him, even when it meant leaving his own land, dealing with worlds unknown, staying for long years where the Catholic presence was scarce. This letting oneself be led, like a child, constituted his priestly journey.

Through this obedience, however, Roncalli, the priest and bishop, lived an even deeper faithfulness, which we can define—as he would have called it—abandonment to Divine Providence. In the faith he continuously recognized that, through that life's journey that was seemingly guided by others, not led by his own tastes or on the basis of his own spiritual sensitivity, God was carrying out His plan.

Even more profoundly, through this daily abandonment to God's will, the future Pope John lived a purification that allowed him to completely break away from himself and to adhere to Christ, letting that holiness that the Church has officially recognized emerge. 'Whosoever loses their life for my sake will save it', Jesus tells us. Herein lies the true source of Pope John's goodness, of the peace that he spread in the world, herein we find the root of his holiness: in his evangelical obedience.

This is a lesson for all of us, but also for today's Church: if we know how to let ourselves be led by the Holy Spirit, if we know how to mortify our selfishness to make room for the Lord's love and his will, then we will find peace, then we will know how to be builders of peace and we will spread peace around us.

In conclusion, the Pope addressed the faithful present, urging them to imitate his holiness. Let yourself be guided by the Holy Spirit. Don't be afraid of the risks just as he was unafraid. Docility to the Spirit, love for the Church, and forward … the Lord will do the rest.