A NEW book on Pope John Paul II has revealed that the late pope contemplated resignation, he practised flagellation and the Red Brigades once planned to kidnap him.
Written by Polish monsignor Slawomir Oder, the postulator of the sainthood cause of the late pope, the book appears credible since its findings are based on those documents that have already been presented to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Cause of Saints.
The document, Perché è Santo, (Just Why He's A Saint)published this week, appears to offer the definitive answer to one of those enigmatic questions which have puzzled Vatican scholars, namely John Paul's willingness (or unwillingness) to resign.
Although the book reveals that the late pope wrote a letter of resignation as far back as February 1989, 16 years before his death, it also suggests that in the end the late pope firmly resolved to stay at his post until his death.
Speculation about a letter of resignation was rife throughout the later years of John Paul II’s 27-year-long pontificate.
Msgr Oder’s book contains a copy of the pope’s 1989 letter in which he wrote that he would resign “in the case of infirmity which is presumed incurable, long-lasting and which impedes me from sufficiently carrying out the functions of my apostolic ministry”.
The letter was left in the safekeeping of the deacon of the College of Cardinals, first the late Benin cardinal Bernardin Gantin and then with the current pope, the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. The understanding was that if the late pope’s health became too problematic, then the College of Cardinals would intervene.
Ironically, even though John Paul suffered from poor health in his last years – having been afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease and also enduring an operation for colon cancer – the cardinals at no stage urged his resignation.
Holy See thinking throughout those dramatic final years of his pontificate was that while he was clearly very ill, the late pope nonetheless remained in control of his mental faculties.
Furthermore, he said on more than one occasion in those declining years that God had put him on the throne of St Peter and that only God could take him off it. He clearly felt that the first papal resignation in 700 years would do the Catholic Church no good.
Revelations that Pope John Paul whipped himself are not new, having been reported by Vatican specialist Andrea Tornielli in another book, Santo Subito, three months ago. However, this book provides much evidence which suggests that the late pope not only whipped himself with a leather belt, but also fasted and slept on the floor by way of penance that would unite him to the suffering of Christ.
As for the suggestion that Italian terrorist group the Red Brigades contemplated kidnapping John Paul II at one point, the book is less categoric – merely reproducing a police “warning” to this effect. Because of his “heroic virtues” John Paul II was declared “Venerable” last month by his successor Pope Benedict.
Miracles worked through his intercession now have to be approved before John Paul becomes first blessed and later a saint.