This piece first ran in the magazine, America.
Today's announcement by dad Francis of the canonization of Blessed John Paul II was not a surprise. From the time of his death in 2005, when crowds shouted "Santo Subito!" in St. Peter's square, to the resignation of the Pope Benedicto XVI of the normal rule of five years (the canonization process normally not begin until five years after the death of the person) leaked news of this week requiring the second miracle had been approvedthe official announcement was expected.
What was not expected in today's announcement, which came during a meeting with the prefect of the Congregation for the causes of Saints, was the adoption of the canonization of Blessed John XXIII, the process seemed to have languished in recent years. Even more surprising was the news that the Pope had waived the second normal miracle. Federico Lombardi, S.J., papal, explained, spokesman "despite the absence of a second miracle, was the will of the Pope to the holiness of the great Pope of Vatican Council II be redognized". Father Lombardi said that, of course, the Pope has the authority to "passing" that requirement and added that there had been discussions among theologians and experts about whether needed two miracles for beatification and canonization. As always, surprises of father Francis. (Maybe second miracle of Juan XXIII was the election of Francisco).
The two Popes appeal to a wide variety of Catholics. The popularity of John Paul only seemed to grow as the papacy continued and has remained strong among Catholics since his death. A man of strong faith, a tireless evangelist, and a strong enemy frequently both communism and poverty, Pope became, by much that he might disapprove the use of the word, a religious rock star. Perhaps the most admirable quality of man was his determination: his youth working under a Communist regime in Poland, his incredible series of Papal trips and his long battle against Parkinson's disease showed the spiritual arena of the world. But the man some call John Paul Magno was not perfect: revelations about the crimes of father Marcial Maciel, founder disgraced Legion of Christ, which was engendered both and abused children, questions in the trial of John Paul. But it is not without blemish: the saints will tell them that.
The popularity of Juan XXIII, by contrast, seemed diminished among some sectors in recent years, although for those who love him, he is a huge hero. (Some of this decline was simple aging and death of the living during his years as Pope). Humble, humorous, affable, intelligent, creative, who convened the Second Vatican Council, which came with him, said, not as a result of the long meditation, but as "an unexpected Spring Flower," is loved as "good Pope John." But Juan XXIII was not, as some have it, simply a jolly old man, Roly-Poly. The Church towards the dangerous coasts of renewal could head a diplomatic veteran and a learned expert in history of the Church, the old patriarch of Venice skillfully. He was also strong in their opposition to that worst of traits in the Catholic Church: pessimism. In response to those who portended only risk and danger in the world, Pope John responded succinctly in his inaugural speech to Vatican II: "Feel that we we disagree with these prophets of darkness". But nor was it Juan XXIII perfect: some are running his pontificate as the beginning of the "drift" in the Church and its Board as ultimately leaning too much towards the modern world.
The joint announcement of Francis some Pope can press simply as a cunning "movement." Two dads are seen to attract different types of Catholics, and so this announcement will be used to join these groups. For me, I deeply admire John Paul II, but Juan XXIII is a great hero. For some friends of mine, that statement would be reversed. But all, I hope that they can be happy today.
But there is a much deeper message here, one that it goes beyond what some might call "political" Church. And that message is about the Saints. John Paul and John XXXIII were equal in many ways: dedicated to Christ, dedicated to Mary, faithful to the teachings of the Church, intelligent, hard-working, intelligent, experienced, thoughtful.
In many respects, however, they were different. Karol Wojtyla seemed to have had an air more melancholic than Angelo Roncalli, who by most accounts, was a man most joyful, always ready with a joke. (This is not to say that John Paul was with no sense of humor, but those who knew him tend to speak more often of his serious side). John Paul seemed to savor their place on the world stage, as a way of communicating their faith, while Juan XXIII seemed something more private, writing to his sister before the conclave that elected him, "who wants to be more than a cardinal?" John Paul sometimes seemed more philosopher (it need only read his encyclicals for proof of this), while John seemed more Shepherd (above the door to his studio in Venice, the cardinal Roncalli placed the motto Pastor Pater et.) The two also approached Government Church in different ways, designated to different kinds of bishops and archbishops during their papacies. More fundamentally, friends of mine who knew both of them describe their personalities in different ways.
But it has always been thus. Two things to remember about Saints: firstly, they were not perfect. And secondly, as today's announcement reminds us, are not versions of from one to another cookie cutter. John Paul II and Juan XXIII may appeal to different types of Catholics because they were different types of people. And what the Church is telling us today is that both types are saints.
Perhaps Juan XXIII said it best, when you talk about the false idea that the Saints were the same. In one of his diary entries wondered if he was called to be exactly like one of its holy places, the Jesuit Luis Gonzaga. Not, he concluded, "I am not St Aloysius or should I seek Holiness in his particular way, but according to the requirements of my character, my own character and the different conditions of my life...St Aloysius had been as I am, I would have become Holy in a different way."
Follow the Rev. James Martin, S.J. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JamesMartinSJ
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