Br. Barnabas Maria Wilson
Like another John the Baptist, the preacher makes straight the way of the Lord. Using human means and human words, God is pleased to bring about the salvation of his people. St. John Paul II was a preacher.

This is part of a series entitled, “Preaching: Feeding Fellow Beggars.” Read the series introduction here. To see other posts in the series, click here.
On October 22, 1978, thousands of faithful pilgrims, dignitaries, and bishops filled Saint Peter’s Square for the inaugural Mass of Pope John Paul II. As a part of the Mass, he included in his preaching a surprising admission: “Today a new Bishop comes to the Chair of Peter in Rome, a Bishop full of trepidation, conscious of his unworthiness” (Homily, 3). A bishop full of trepidation? Indeed, for his mission was great. John Paul II knew the suffering of the world. In his youth, the problem of the world loomed over him in the form of war and violence. The problem continued to threaten him, even as pope. He was anxious, full of trepidation. What would he do? What would this new pope say? What could he say?
As a boy, Karol Wojtyla lived under the stern and violent arm of fascism. He was only 19 when the Nazis invaded. He witnessed his countrymen rounded up, humiliated, and executed. He witnessed the Nazis devour his homeland. They were pleased to use violence to enforce what was their “truth”—One Race above all others. The Aryans were destined to rule, and the powerful ought to have their way with the weak. What would the young Karol do? He did what he could: he secretly went to seminary, and he prayed.
As an adult, Karol lived under the stifling and controlling eye of communism. Poland, after the spilled blood of World War II,  » Read More
https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2025/01/problem-pope-john-paul-ii-barnabas-wilson.html