杏MAP导航

By Andrea Tornielli

In the intense hours leading up to the beginning of the Conclave convened to elect the new Successor of the Apostle Peter, it is worthwhile to recall a fundamental aspect of the ministry of the Bishop of Rome鈥攐ne particularly perceived by the People of God: fatherhood. Millions of people, upon the unexpected announcement of the death of 杏MAP导航 Francis, felt orphaned鈥攂ereft of a father.

杏MAP导航 Saint Paul VI reflected on the experience of fatherhood during a conversation with his friend, the philosopher Jean Guitton, upon returning from his journey to India in December 1964. The 杏MAP导航 had been greeted in the streets upon arrival by more than a million people from all religions. It was an unforgettable embrace. The crowds filled the streets, surrounding the open-roofed Lincoln that Paul VI would later donate to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. For two uninterrupted hours, the 杏MAP导航 greeted and blessed the people.

Recalling that encounter with the crowd, 杏MAP导航 Paul VI confided to Guitton, 鈥淚 believe that of all the dignities of a 杏MAP导航, the most enviable is fatherhood. I once accompanied Pius XII during solemn ceremonies. He would throw himself into the crowd as into the pool of Bethesda. They clung to him, tore at his garments. And he was radiant. He regained strength. But between witnessing fatherhood and being personally a father, there is an ocean of difference. Fatherhood is a feeling that invades the spirit and heart, that accompanies us every hour of the day, that cannot diminish, but only grows鈥攂ecause the number of children grows.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Saint Paul VI added, 鈥淚t is not so much a function as a fatherhood. And one cannot cease being a father... I feel like the father of all humanity... And this feeling, in the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 conscience, is always new, always fresh, always in a state of birth, always free and creative. It is a feeling that does not tire, that does not grow weary, that relieves every fatigue. Never鈥攏ot even for a moment鈥攈ave I felt tired when raising my hand to bless. No, I shall never grow weary of blessing or forgiving."

"When I arrived in Bombay," he said, "there were twenty kilometers to travel to reach the Congress venue. Immense crowds, countless, dense, silent, motionless, lined the road鈥攕piritual and poor crowds, those eager, packed, half-clothed, attentive crowds that one sees only in India. I had to continue blessing. A priest friend who was near me鈥擨 believe that by the end he was supporting my arm, like Moses' servant. And yet, I do not feel superior, but a brother鈥攍ess than all鈥攂ecause I carry the weight of all.鈥�

As such, the Successor of Peter is a brother, 鈥渓ess than all,鈥� because he carries the burden of all.

Several months before that experience in India, 杏MAP导航 Paul VI had already felt what it meant to be quite literally 鈥渟wallowed鈥� by the embrace of the people. This was the case in January 1964, during his first Apostolic Journey, which was to the Holy Land, a visit deeply desired by the late 杏MAP导航.

In Jerusalem, at the Damascus Gate, the crowd was so immense that it disrupted the planned welcome ceremony. The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 car swayed like a boat, and he, exiting with difficulty and shielded by King Hussein鈥檚 soldiers, passed with great effort through the Damascus Gate鈥攈is entourage unable to accompany him. Paul VI walked the entire Via Dolorosa, hemmed in by the tightly packed crowd in the ancient alleys of the Holy City. At times, it seemed he would be swallowed up by the throng. His face remained serene and smiling, hands lifted in blessing.

That evening, Father Giulio Bevilacqua, a personal friend of the 杏MAP导航, told a group of journalists gathered outside the Apostolic Delegation in Jerusalem that many years earlier, Giovanni Battista Montini had confided to him,  鈥淚 dream of a 杏MAP导航 who lives free from the pomp of the court and the imprisonments of protocol. Finally alone, in the midst of his deacons.鈥�

And therefore, Fr. Bevilacqua concluded, 鈥淭hat is why I am convinced that today, although overwhelmed by the crowd, he is happier than when he descends into Saint Peter鈥檚 seated on the gestatorial chair鈥︹��