John Paul II: for 25 years a Pope of love, humanity, strength and respect

October 16 is the 25th anniversary of the election of a comparatively young Polish Cardinal, Karol Wojtyla, as Bishop of Rome and leader of a billion Catholics worldwide. Choosing the same name "John Paul" as his recently deceased predecessor, the handsome, smiling Polish Cardinal gave no indication of his intellectual and linguistic brilliance, of his carefully crafted communication skills, nor of his steely determination to lead the Church and, if possible the world, towards a new vision for humanity as it approached the 2000th anniversary of Christianity.

His manifesto was clearly articulated in his 1979 keynote encyclical Redemptor Hominis - "the redeemer of man". In it he proclaims the amazing good news "That God is Love", a love greater than sin, greater than alienation, greater than human frailty. Critically linked to this good news is the absolute necessity of freedom, if people are to live with the dignity of God's sons and daughters.

This theme of his first encyclical was to become a constant refrain of his pontificate, particularly the emphasis on freedom. Striking a responsive chord in the hearts of all people, especially those behind the "iron curtain", it was no surprise that the governments of these countries crumbled, not solely because of the Pope's words, but neither independently of them. It is impossible to adequately catalogue his achievements whether as theologian, world evangelist, advocate of peace, church superstar, promoter of social justice, passionate ecumenist, protector of life, universal shepherd of souls, believer in young people, and in more recent years, wounded healer.

Like the evangelists of old but on a much wider stage he proclaims his message endlessly and heroically. A visit almost anywhere in the world will uncover evidence of the Pope's presence recorded in its gathering places but, more importantly still, in the hearts and minds of the people who saw or listened to him. Even our small nation, Australia, did not escape his impact. No one has proclaimed the dignity and importance of Indigenous Australians more eloquently than he did at Alice Springs in 1986, so that his words are treasured and quoted frequently by Indigenous people themselves.

I met John Paul II initially at the old Brisbane airport in 1986, on the first of his two visits to Australia. On that occasion, Premier Bjelke-Petersen showed him a photo of their previous meeting at Bowen Hills in 1973 when the Pope was a mere Cardinal. In later years I met him person to-person on three Ad Limina visits to Rome and shared meals with him and other bishops at the Vatican. On Ad Limina meetings he would invariably inquire about the Indigenous people of Australia for whom he had a deep affection, and whose antiquity fascinated him.

He had a mischievous sense of humour that he used to advantage as he engaged people in lively table conversation. His sense of fun on such occasions reminded one of his early years as a young priest in Krakow when, dressed in mufti, he took youth groups on excursions to the mountains, and encouraged them to call him "Uncle", a title still used in Rome when those same, but much older, people come calling.

The pope defies simple definition. Like all great people he has been attacked by what we loosely and inaccurately refer to as people of the right and left, whether within or outside the Church. To define him merely as conservative is too easy. While he is much too liberal for many conservatives, at other times he is even more liberal than the most liberal, especially in areas of social justice.

Perhaps a measure of the man can best be discovered in the humility of one of his truly great encyclicals Ut Unum Sint where he urges the unity of all Christians. In it he asks Christians to pray for his conversion to Jesus Christ lest he become an obstacle to the very unity he seeks to encourage. In the humility of that request we catch a glimpse of the Christian greatness of the man.

On the 25th anniversary of his election we can give him no greater gift than to grant his wish. In future years many will remember his leadership, his teaching, his courage, his faith, his hope. I would like to remember his humanity.

On one occasion at lunch in the Vatican with other Australian Bishops I reminded him of the day in Australia when he travelled from Melbourne to Darwin to Alice Springs to Adelaide, in all those cities delivering significant addresses. He made no comment but simply held his head in his hands and murmured, "O my God', whether as a prayer, or in remembrance of discomfort I am still not sure.

What will be Pope John Paul's place in history? Only time will tell, but during his papacy he has preached the love of God and the dignity and freedom of all people with such strength and conviction that his message must surely have an impact. This message is constant, strong, simple and compelling: "Respect every human person. Every human person is the image of God. Preach the gospel so that this may become a reality."