www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology John Paul II the Great ???

Dr. Alex,

He might have a point since the Holy Apostle Andrew had a Greek name.

St. Peter was Simon which was a Hebrew name, why does his brother have a Greek name? I have heard that the family was well to do and very cosmopolitan and that's why Andrew (Andreas) was given the Greek name.

Father Anthony, what do you think?

Why Alex, that wee address was borrowed from...you !

And I have no problems with other opinions & thoughts...the more variety the better...I learned that from a blessed Polish Pope.

james

ps- I'm a humble and lovable guy...I do like Steve Martin...

Stats shows Mass attendance worldwide is way down. In some places in Europe its a single digit number.

Gee, thanks Alex!

From the little I know, I think Ronald Reagan was the biggest reason for the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Not according to Gorbachev. He credits John Paul II.

Dr Eric,

Too save face maybe?

Dr. Eric,

Here is another argument. Not mine but I find it refreshing to hear both sides of any story:
The Pope Didn\'t End Communism [slate.com]

His arguement goes like this:
The Pope had some influence in Poland. But most of the people in late communist era Eastern Europe were not Christians of any sort, let alone Catholics.

The real reason he argues is this:
The communist economies were stagnating and even in decline. The greater exposure to Westerners that came as a result of Nixon and Kissinger's negotiations with Moscow heightened the awareness of Eastern Europeans and Russians that they were falling hopelessly behind.

Finally he argues,
In the Soviet Union it was the KGB itself that helped initiate reforms that eventually spun out of control. Why? The KGB had many people who had spent time in the West and they knew how far behind they were falling. Reagan's Star Wars initiative, while widely criticised in the United States as unachievable, worried the Soviet leaders who feared US technological advantages might be usable to develop weapons that would neutralize much of Russia's nuclear arsenal. Capitalism's triumph over communism motivated the reformers to try to find ways to keep up. The communist reformers set in motion changes that they failed to control. Widespread desires for a better life and a loss of faith in communism led to the collapse of the USSR and the freeing of Eastern Europe. Gorbachev's inept leadership undermined efforts to control the reforms. The Pope played a relatively small role by comparsion.

Dr Eric,

You may want to post this question in the Scripture Forum. Some that are a little better versed in the scriptures may actually have an some revealing answers. If i get time tonight I will look up the life of Saint Andrew in the Synaxarion from the Holy Mountain. It may reveal the answer to your question there.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Ray S and Mexican

I think the prevailing rule of thumb among Catholics today, is that one may speak very critically of any pre-V2 Popes, Urban II, Innocent III, Pius IX, Pius X, Pius XII etc, but NEVER of John XXIII or John Paul II.

Lawrence,

:rolleyes:
I must ask for forgiveness I forgot the new Post-Vatican II rule.

BTW, isn't there a cause for sainthood considered for all of the post-V2 popes?

? Really? You may be right about John XXIII, who after all only reigned a short time and is considered saintly by almost everyone - though you will admit the Council he called has been the subject of some rather harsh criticism.

And John Paul II? He's criticized by both the right (for "kissing the Koran") and the left (for being such a "hard liner" and refusing to allow birth control, gay marriage and female priests).

Me, I have no real problem with either of them being canonized, but that doesn't mean they'll be beyond criticism. There are plenty of canonized saints I'd like to have a looong talk with - St. Jerome for one.

There is a cause for Pope John Paul I. Correct?

Yeah, looks like it:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/05/world/printable557141.shtml

So since Vatican II we have had the following Popes:

Blessed John XXIII (1958-63)
Paul VI (1963-78)
John Paul I (1978)
John Paul II (1978-2005)

Blessed John XXIII is up for canonization.

Paul VI cause is being started by Jesuit Father Paolo Molinari, who did the cause for Saint Mother Teresa.

John Paul I cause has started.

John Paul II cause has started.

Benedict XVI will have to wait and see.

So, that means so far all Post-Vatican II Popes will probably be called Saints.

I think Lech Walesa played a very important role in bringing down communism. I still remember when Solidarnosc posters and stickers were everywhere in Chicago.

Well RayS,

I only can say...Solidarnosc !

james

ps-does anybody know how difficult it is coming from Italian/Polish family ...oy vey