I was born during the pontificate of Pius XI. Until today, I have seen successively those of Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, Benedict XVI Y Francisco. Seven potatoes in my life story. I have the best impression of all. Some I met live.
The Catholic Action, the secular arm of the hierarchical apostolate of the Church, was created by Pius XI; I adhered to it in my youth. Pius XI saw the negative or positive influence that cinematography could have and founded, as a means of apostolate, the International Catholic Film Office (OCIC), which had its affiliate in Venezuela, the Center for Film Culture, to which I belonged.
In 1939 – he was 13 years old and lived in San José, Costa Rica – Pius XI died. Without television, we follow the events on the radio. We gladly receive the choice of his successor expected: Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli. In the early 1930s, in Los Teques, I heard his voice from Buenos Aires, where he attended a Eucharistic Congress as a papal delegate. Pius XII was a great pope, whose deep spirituality transcended, became sensitive, upon receiving his electrifying blessing. I had this experience live, both in Rome and Castel Gandolfo, in 1954 and 1956. Hated by the Russian communists, in skilful propaganda, they smeared him as indifferent to the Holocaust. He fell out of favor among not a few Jews. Even to this day, already open vatican archiveswhere is the truth
Pius XII died in 1958 and John XXIII was elected. Short reign -4 years- but fertile. The town called it Para Bueno. He convened the Second Vatican Council. Transcendent. There were changes and proposals that gave contemporary vigor to the Church. In 1962 the development of Vatican II fell on his successor Paul VI. At that time, the figure of the Pope enjoyed a lot of world prestige. Paul VI bravely challenged him: in 1968 he published his encyclical Humanae Vitae to defend life, as he touched and continues to touch Church. Of course, he had a general pushback from birth control supporters. I saw and heard it in Rome in the years 1964, 1973 and 1976.
Very brief reign of 33 days that of John Paul I who succeeded Paul VI in 1978, but also fruitful. In four catecheses from the Chair of Saint Peter, along with his unforgettable smile, left invaluable doctrine. He was followed by John Paul II, that same year, of whom little needs to be said, since his charisma and drive reached all corners of the planet. He gave the Church one of the brightest pages in his history. I met him in Manaus and Caracas. Then came Benedict XVI, already in the 21st century -2005-, unknown to many, but a great theologian, the most important in recent centuries, whose encyclicals are a jewel of doctrine and humanity. no Catholic I should stop reading them. His resignation from the papacy, acknowledging his inability to bear the weight of the Church, is the most courageous and heroic act of any pope. In 1977 I received communion in Munich from the hands of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Archbishop of the city.
I have a word to define each of these pontiffs: Pius XI, the respected; Pius XII, the slandered; John XXIII, the loved; Paul VI, the criticized; John Paul I, the fleeting; John Paul II, the acclaimed; Benedict XVI, the unknown. And as for the last one, Francisco, the reviled. He came to the papacy in 2013.
Never had such cruelty fallen on a contemporary pope. They criticize everything they claim that he says or does not say, that he does or does not do. pretend, because malicious headlines are taken, out of context, they do not even finish reading the news where the truth appears; nor do they go to the sources of Vatican, there day by day you see how Francisco deals with giving criteria on each and every one of the world conflicts. Not political positions, of course, nor can he nor should he, his mandate is Catholic, universal. Some accuse him of being a communist, others of being a Nazi. In his decided option for the poor and sinners, he follows Jesus Christ, the Social Doctrine of the Church. He is a Jesuit, but he did not choose the name of Ignacio, but that of poor Assisi for his pontificate. His performance as head of the Catholic Church is sincere, authentic, clean, holy, free and accurate.
Alicia Alamo Bartolome
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▷ #OPINION From Guaire to Turbio: Francisco #30Nov – El Impulso