Blessed Pope John Paul II was truly a Rock Star in two ways: he was more popular than any rock star has ever been and he ROCKED Europe, causing the downfall of Communism without firing a shot or dropping a bomb. He, himself, was the bomb! When the News Media and Press asked him how he was able to collapse Communism when the U.S. with all its armed forces could not, the Pope just humbly answered: "When the tree is rotten, it falls." The Popes visits to Poland and support of Solidarity was surely a big factor in Communism's collapse. When Communism fell, so did the Berlin wall collapse as well. Pope John Paul made a modern-day marched around the "communistic wall's of Jerrico" by God's commision; and all the walls fell down. The world was amazed and delighted. Russia prior to the collapse of Communism sent a man to assassinate the Pope, but Our Lady of Fatima saved him [gratefully admits the Pope] who was shot but recovered. Later, the Pope retalliated by going into the prison,blessing and forgiving Surhand - and embracing him. Russia sends bullets; the Pope sends love and forgiveness. Who won! 'Nough said.
But what really made Blessed John Paul a true Rock Star was his invention of "World Youth day." Here millions of young people came to see him and sing with him and listen to him tell them to "Not be afraid". I was at one of his World Youth Days in Denver. These kids came from around to world to see him, cheer him and be inspired by him. Of course, he was a showman by trade. He did have a Ph.D. in Philosophy but more so he was a dramatist. He wrote plays for the stage and film. Burt Lancaster played in his beautiful film -play "The Jeweler". [Pope John Paul said that drama was the most impactful way to get a truth across to people.] This is a deep movies which is so insightful of marriage that you would think that the Pope would have had to have been married to write such a work. There were rumors that before becoming a priest that he was married but his wife was killed in occupied Nazi Poland. When asked about this by the press, he smiled and did not answer. But he also did not deny it. He was an incredibly loving and affectionate man. But he gave this great loving heart to God and to the World. His wife was the Church, and he loved her to "death do us part."
There is something I wish to explain from my own experience with Blessed Pope John Paul Ii when I saw him at the Silver Dome in Pontiac. I was not real close; but I could see him and hear him well. This was not television; this was live-in-person encounter: a "close encounter of the heavenly kind." When he came out to greet the people, something happended to my heart spiritually and physically: I felt an enormous love for him - warm and real - deeply spiritual! I truly wondered how this was possible since I had never met him before and have not been able to be friends. Of course, I often prayed for "The Pope's intentions" after Mass and Communion. But would that have created such a mystical bond of love between a sheep and his shepherd?
What happened here never had happened to me before or after. I had a full-blown intense spiritual love for a man I have never met until that moment. This love was infused into me from above. The Holy Spirit gave me this love for Jesus Christ dwelling in John Paul II. It was Jesus who I was loving. The Pope was only the outer skin of Jesus, so to speak. I was in the presence of a Saint who carried Jesus to me more than any human being ever has done. I have met many holy people before: abbots, bishops, priests, nuns. But this was totally different. I was meeting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of Pope John Paul. He was the Sacrament - a living and walking Sacrament of Jesus' Real Presence. Perhaps that is why when the Pope was dying, people came through the night under his window singing Polish songs to comfort him and let him know he was at "home" and was going soon going "home". When at his funeral, more people came in person to his funeral Mass than had ever convened in the history for any event in the history of mankind. Also, too, the world was watcing it all on Televesion on Vatican Television and EWTN. More than 200 countries were watching his final goodbye to the world he loved.
Pope Benedict XVI, though not as charamatic or good looking or crowd-connecting as Pope John Paul, still has a charmisma all his own:
1) He has the greatest theological mind in the Church.
2) He can kiss babies and children with as much charm and affection as Pope John II.
3) His encyclicals are inspired - heart-felt and moving teachings that lead and call the Faithful to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
4) His smile and charm are unigue and attractive - to old and young.
5) Just two days ago, Pope Benedict entered a large church in Madrid, Spain, and started to walk up the aisle. 1600 nuns - mostly young - greeted him with love and praises and applauds. You would think he truly was a Rock Star! They all loved him because he is an "alter Christus" - "another Christ" as all priests are. But these nuns are wearing their wedding dresses - their habits. Why? Because they want everyone to know that they are married to Christ. They have given up the human marriage pleasures for the pleasure of being brides of Christ. Their celibacy is a proclamation in the Resurrection of Jesus who said that "in heaven we will not marry or be given in marriage but will be like angels." Additionally, I understand from experience that these nuns are being given a Love from the Holy Spirit for Pope Benedict as the Vicar of Christ on earth [as I was given for Pope John Paul II]. The Holy Spirit can and does create Love in us for His own. There is also some personal charisma that Pope Benedict XVI has: while in Madrid, I saw a crown of 1.8 million chanting "Benedito! Benedito! Benedito!" It began to rain hard. Those shielding the Pope from the rain were not successful because the strong wind blew the rain sideways. The Pope clutched unto this papers which was his speech. He was laughing a little. He could not complete his speech. He did not get up..just sat there smiling as he looked out at the throng who were reveling in the rain which was cooling them off from the hot Spainish sun. But the crowd were urging him to go on with the talk and not consider the rain. An annoncer came on to ask for the crowd of young people to pray for an abatement of the rain storm. They did and the rain abated a little. But the crowd and the Pope were having a great time! How many Rock Stars could gather on a concert 1.8 million? Has it ever happened. Well, it happens every World Youth Day Concert by Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict. Why? Easy answer: the are Supre Rock Stars!
Therefore, Popes are true "Super Rock Stars" because Jesus Himself is the "Super-Star" of all stars. He is King of "rock and rolling" in God!
Love, Pio
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