From Your Parish Priest – 17th October 2026
On Thursday we will celebrate the feast day of St John Paul II. I was twelve years old when John Paul II died, so I do have memories of his pontificate, but perhaps not as many as those who lived through his whole pontificate. I have therefore come to know St John Paul II, so to speak, in the years following his death, especially since the Church invited us to seek his intercession following his canonisation on 27 April 2014.
Having reflected on his upcoming feast this week, I have found myself thinking about the state of the world. We live in a world which seems increasingly divided and uncertain. Wars, political and social tensions and an increasing disregard for the dignity of human life. Look at how abortion has become commonplace in society and, of course, here in our own country we have seen many hoping to legalise assisted suicide. It is easy to look at the world around us and become fearful of what the future could hold.
We might think we live in unprecedented times. However, the world was not so different during the 26 year pontificate of St John Paul II. When the young Polish Pope greeted the world for the first time from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, the world was divided by the Iron Curtain. The Berlin Wall divided not only societies and nations, but families and countrymen. The horrors and evils of Communism enslaved and oppressed millions of people and the threat of nuclear war loomed over humanity.
While we are faced with many challenges in our own time, many of which can trace their roots back to the period of St John Paul II's pontificate, there have also been great steps forward. Humanity was able to move on and many of the fearful worries of that time did not come to pass. When we look back at that period, there were many leaders of goodwill. However, I think that, in truth, few world leaders of that time are as fondly remembered and indeed celebrated as St John Paul II. To this day, he is credited with having helped to change the political landscape of Europe forever.
Not a prime minister, president or architect of a political order, St John Paul II is celebrated as one of the greatest world leaders of his time because his guiding principle was the Gospel. I think one of the greatest lessons we can learn from St John Paul II is that the Gospel is not just to be preached, but to be lived, and that its message can reach all peoples, even when there is great division. This living out of the Gospel was also seen throughout his own life. He embodied what it meant to live the Gospel. We might be inspired by the young, energetic Pope who tirelessly travelled the world, consistently preaching the Gospel. Or we might find courage in the frail and aged Pontiff who openly suffered and united his sufferings to Christ on the Cross.
On 22 October 1978, during his coronation as supreme pontificate, the young John Paul II, faced with the burdens of his office and the troubles of the world, famously proclaimed, "Do not be afraid!" At a time when many were afraid, when uncertainty and fear were widespread, St John Paul II showed great confidence and certainty, not because he trusted in the power of men, but because he placed his trust entirely in the power of God. It was this particular voice, proclaiming Christ amongst so many other voices of his time, which helped to change the world and which is still remembered today.
When I find myself concerned and at times fearful, whether for the world or perhaps my own particular circumstances, I find great comfort in the words of John Paul II, "Do not be afraid." These words remind me that neither the powers of this world nor our own abilities can ever truly save us. Only the power of God can do that, as we saw lived out in the papacy of St John Paul II. When we place our trust wholly in Christ, we need not be afraid.
God bless, Fr Hilton