John Paul I Can Lead Us Home
By Ruth Bertels
Whenever we Catholics suffer the heartache of recognizing the difference between the way things are and the way they ought to be in this Church of ours, we turn to the Lord, and to our favorite saints. Today, let us take a long, loving look at Pope John Paul I, (born Albino Luciani). He has so much to teach us, and to remind us that high holiness and service to God’s people are possible, even in the highest office of the Church.
I knew he’d be there, of course, between the covers of Pontiff, by Thomas and Morgan-Watts, and In God’s Name, by David Yallop; I just didn’t know there would be that much to him – all that genuine Christianity in the open for the world to see. Among the purple and gold, the Michaelangelos and Raphaels, the politicians and financial wizards. Right on the throne of Peter.
John Paul I had been nurtured in poverty, and never forgot what that was like. As he moved from being an unknown cleric to becoming bishop of Vittorio Veneto, he gently refused all gifts with these words: “I came without five lire. I want to leave without five lire.”
An incident in Vittorio Veneto shows his attitude toward clerics and civil law. It is especially appropriate for our inspiration, considering the scandals by which our people are surrounded these sad days.
Two priests had become involved in a financial scandal, resulting in the loss of money to small savers. Luciani called his four-hundred priests together, told them the entire story and promised the two billion lire would be returned.
Most agreed with him. Others felt he was too moral about the matter. The property speculator who had involved the two priests committed suicide before his trial. One of the priests served a one-year prison term, and the other was acquitted. (In God’s Name)
If Luciani was this sensitive about financial matters, one cannot help but wonder what he would have done if faced with the sexual abuses in our country today. There wouldn’t have been any cover-ups, for sure. How many thousands of children he would have saved, and in the process, no doubt his direct, immediate actions would have avoided the vengeful lawsuits with which we are coping daily.
Prior to his installation, the pope was well aware of the corruption within the Vatican Bank, due to the machinations of Bishop Paul Marcinkus and Roberto Calvi, and he was determined both to replace Marcinkus and to restore the integrity of the Vatican Bank, no matter what the cost in money and reputation. Calvi was involved in the ongoing theft of $1 billion, which Luciani would have completely exposed.
David Yallop concludes his book by telling us of Pope John Paul I’s dream for the Church: By the evening of September 28, 1978, he had taken the first steps toward making that dream come true, by compiling a list of reforms to be instigated immediately, but it was not to be. Some time during the night of September 28, his life came to an end, but not his dream.
Today, he would remind us that the greatest scandal of all is in ignoring its presence, in the hope that it will just go away. Let us pray for his vision and courage and love to heal the terrible wounds perpetrated on our abused children, and throughout our suffering Church. Amen.
