Cardinal Burke Discusses John Paul II’s Lasting Impact

Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, is well acquainted with the soon-to-be St. John Paul II.

Cardinal Burke was consecrated to the episcopacy in 1995 by John Paul. Prior to that, the Holy Father named him the first American Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest ecclesiastical court in the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XVI named him cardinal in 2010 and gave him his current post.

Cardinal Burke discussed his personal memories of Pope John Paul II and the late pope’s immense impact on the Church that he shepherded for more than 25 years, on the eve of his canonization together with Pope John XXIII in Rome.

What are your recollections of John Paul II and your view on his legacy?

After the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, many people thought the encounter between faith and culture was a question of the faith accommodating itself to the culture, whereas, instead, John Paul II knew how to address the faith to the culture, to call the culture to be the best it could be, to be true to the teaching of Christ, to be transformed.

I’d say you could describe his entire pontificate this way. Through his tireless efforts of travels, teaching, so many writings and by addressing the tough issues, he came to the culture; he addressed the word of Christ through the culture for its transformation. That’s what people experienced.

He came to America several times and addressed very serious questions, whether they were religious life, Catholic education or the sacred liturgy. He did it with a personal encounter, personal witness and with very solid teaching.
full interview at NCRegister

Also: Vatican Radio: Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Cardinal Raymond Burke


Photo

No comments: