Significance of John XXIIIS Brief Pontificate - Essay Example

Last First The Emergence of Peace SIGNIFICANCE OF JOHN XXIII’S BRIEF PONTIFICATE Pope John XXIII was born in the year 1881 in ‘Sotto il Monte’, Italy in a sharecropping family. Roncallis career as the pope of Church started during the year 1904, after completing graduation in theology. He was regarded as one of the most significant as well as influencing popes. During the year 1958, after the death of Pius XII, Roncallis was elected as a Pope naming John XXIII. After reconciling as a pope John XXIII, immediately worked for the welfare and for changing the culture in Vatican and visited to the community of Rome. Moreover, no significant changes were made in the practices of Church however; the pope was remembered for his kindness. The most significant reason that made him the most remarkable pope in the Christian history was due to the fact that called for developing the ecumenical council i.e. Vatican II. Based on the formation of Vatican II council, the classic Church practices significantly altered by means of new ecumenism and liturgy. Furthermore, Pope John XXIII has an important contribution in the Christian history, as he kept his view towards addressing the fact that was of high importance to Catholics worldwide. Additionally, restriction to use contraceptives was also regarded as his strong view, as it was claimed that it interferes the procreative will of God. Apparently, he continuously worked towards supporting the traditional viewpoint, which affirmed that married couples should not be divorced. Moreover, his work contributes towards protecting the Church scandal issues. Nevertheless, his contribution towards negotiating peace between Soviet Union and the US is also worth mentioning (Papal Encyclicals Online, “Encyclical of Pope John XXIII promulgated April 11, 1963”). IMPACT OF JOHN XXIII’S ENCYCLICAL PACEM IN TERRIS Pope John XXIII’s encyclical ‘Pacem in Terris’ or rather the ‘Peace on Earth’ proposed during the year 1963 has have a fundamental impact over the Catholic social teaching during the period of war and peace. Additionally, the encyclical proposed by John XXIII during the cold war affirmed to have a dramatic appeal to maintain the decorum of peace among the world leading nations. Moreover, the principle ‘Pacem in Terris’ plays an important role in promoting the church-state relations, rights of the women, religious freedom and dealing with the other major issues. Besides, the encyclical’s state the norms of peace and maintains the intrinsic dignity of every person. Additionally, the impact was seen in the principle to maintain the religious freedom, equitable rights for the weaker section especially women, concern on the poor groups, rights of the nations and addressing the issues of globalization as well as church political issues. The key considerable importance of ‘Pacem in Terris’ principle was the arguments that affirms that civil authorities of the nation have the obligation to provide equitable protection for freedom. Besides, the notion of encyclical ‘Pacem in Terris’ in the current scenario affirmed that everyone whether individuals or families of the society as well as the states should perceive to work through maintaining harmony and peace along with promoting the environment of truth and love to contribute overall human development in a solidarity manner. Nevertheless, encyclical provided important lessons to create an environment of peace through the origin of divine human beings, society, as well as authority. Furthermore, in the encyclical ‘Pacem in Terris’ John XXIII affirmed that principal political as well civil rights should be guaranteed to each person in a best possible manner that would promote the formation and support to the family (Filteau, “Experts: Pacem in Terris had radical impact on church teaching”). PEACE THEME IN THE PONTIFICATES OF PAUL VI AND JOHN PAUL II Paul VI or Giovanni Battista Montini was the pope of ‘Roman Catholic church’ for the period of 1963-78. Additionally, pontificate of peace was mainly to deal with the uncertainties and various problems that the church faced during the changing dimension of world environment. Before being named as the pope, Paul VI worked towards providing solution to mitigate the various social problems that had a significant impact in order to maintain peace worldwide. Paul VI during enduring his period as the pope continuously upheld towards promoting peace through equitable justice and love. Besides, Paul VI affirmed that the people should maintain peace through the mean of justice and freedom based on the rights of individual and community. Simultaneously, Pope Paul VI also sought to maintain peace in various part of the world including Middle East, Dominican Republic, Congo, and Nigeria (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, “Christi Matri (September 15, 1966)”). Correspondingly, Pope John Paul II in the period of 1978-2005 was the pope of the Catholic Church. He was the second pope who served the longest in the modern history and reconciled to work towards breaking the communist rule in Poland and European nations. During his tenure of serving as the pope, he visited various Muslim nations in order to develop peaceful coexistence between the Muslims and Christian’s regions people. Moreover, Pope John Paul II pontificates and affirmed that nation should form legitimate defense through the formation of armed forces for ensuring and maintaining peace. In this regard, Pope John Paul II sanctions, towards the formation of contemporary global order to correct the government behaviour that violates peace through the serious domination in the inhabitants. Furthermore, he also revealed that there should be appropriate measure to control the production, as well as export and import of arms and other weapons, which have direct contribution in out breaking violence. John Paul II also works towards ensuring peace through spreading the lesson of peace to maintain human dignity and promote peace. Besides, he also affirmed to reduce hunger, poverty, illiteracy, unequal goods distribution and lack of shelters. John Paul II and the US president Ronald Reagan in the year 1982, pledge to work together in order to ensure peace and justice in world. Half of the John II pontificate focuses towards improving the condition of people living under the communist rule thus his impact is beyond the sphere of Roman Catholic Church and Christian group. Nevertheless, his pontificate or preaching’s were committed towards ensuring social justice and high reconciliation, to maintain human dignity rights worldwide. Apart from this the major contribution and action to maintain peace during the time of two gulf war and conflicting scenario Palestinian-Israeli , promoting peace worldwide was the major contribution (World Council of Churches, “Pope John Paul II”). CONTINUITY BETWEEN JOHN XXIII’S WRITINGS ON PEACE AND THOSE OF JOHN PAUL II, ESPECIALLY IN EVANGELIUM VITAE Pope John XXIII’s encyclical namely ‘Pacem in Terris’ have significant impact over the Catholic social teaching in the initial period of war and peace. Additionally, encyclical affirmed to be a major contribution towards appealing and for maintaining peace in empowered nations. Furthermore, Pope John XXIII plays a major contribution in promoting peaceful relation between church-state, ensuring rights of women, religious freedom and eradicating the key societal issues. Besides, according to Pope John XXIII appropriate relationship among the society and state helps in maintaining harmony and peace along with truth. On the other hand, John Paul II writing ‘Evangelium Vitae’ or rather ‘The Gospel of Life’ states about the Catholic Church position towards the value as well as inviolability of inhabitants life. Moreover, his writing provides the scenario of threats over human and Biblical prohibitions. Besides, Evangelium Vitae also provided the notion of various social issues that proved to be a major obstacle including abortion, euthanasia, and death penalty. His writing explores the phenomena of phenomenology as well as personalization. Nevertheless, according to the writing of John Paul II in order to maintain peaceful environment of the society, death penalty is enforceable if it affirms to defend society. Moreover, encyclical further addresses the importance of the social, ecological factors and the contribution of society to improve the overall efficiency through emphasising over improving the duty of care (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, “Evangelium Vitae (25 March 1995)”). EMERGENCE OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL Leo XIII pontificate is emerged as the beginning of traditional social learning and teaching of Catholic Church in relation to modern industrialism. Additionally, Pope Leo XIII laid the concept of Catholic social teaching through opposing the rule of Marxism as well as liberalism. Furthermore, this important concept of relationship between the political scenario and working class has entirely provided a new sphere to the Catholic social philosophy during the period of 20th century (Berkley Center for Regional, Peace & World Affair, “Pope Leo XIII”). SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SITUATION FACED BY THE VATICAN WHEN LEO XIII WROTE RERUM NOVARUM Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII ‘Rerum Novarum’ elaborates the dehumanizing conditions both social and political scenario of Vatican. Additionally, it has been affirmed that the Vatican’s faces significant issues of working rights, wages discrimination, and inequitable treatment in the working environment. Besides, Pope also upholds that people significantly faces problem with the right towards holding their private property. Nevertheless, capitalism regime also provokes the mistreatment of workers and socialism approach (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Major Catholic Social Teaching Documents Activity cut‐outs”). SITUATION CONFRONTING MOST EUROPEAN CATHOLICS Europe as the global power is becoming wane after the end of World War I and most of the Western as well as Central nations of Europe are threatened with the rising level of Communism. Furthermore, the collapse of most of the economic condition of the European nation after the Napoleonic War has also been the major issues. During such situation, most of the European Catholics are unable to forma common Christian philosophy and failed to endure the fundamental constituents of ‘Catholic social teaching’. Besides, Pope Leo XIII empowers the European Catholics St. Thomas Aquinas Christian philosophy thought though producing various encyclical (Baster, “Catholic Origins of the European Union”). LEO XIII SOUGHT TO CONFRONT MARXISM AND OTHER SECULAR Pope Leo XIII empower towards ensuring the Catholic Social teaching through opposing the view of Marxism and liberalism approach of ruling in the nation. The pope worked towards various encyclicals in the sphere of civil government, to empower the Christian citizenship, socialism, removing the slavery and Christian democracy. Furthermore, he is also engaged in maintaining unprecedented degree through addressing his encyclical in various nations concerning the rights of Church’s (Berkley Center for Regional, Peace & World Affair, “Pope Leo XIII”). Works Cited Baster, Dominic. “Catholic Origins of the European Union” 2008. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. “Pope Leo XIII” Berkley Center for Regional, Peace & World Affair. 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. Filteau, Jerry. “Experts: Pacem in Terris had radical impact on church teaching.” 2013. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. “Evangelium Vitae (25 March 1995)” Libreria Editrice Vaticana. n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. “Christi Matri (September 15, 1966)” Libreria Editrice Vaticana. n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. “Encyclical of Pope John XXIII promulgated April 11, 1963” Papal Encyclicals Online. n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. “Major Catholic Social Teaching Documents Activity cut‐outs” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 2010. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. “Pope John Paul II” World Council of Churches. 2015. 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