25 years as supreme pontiff: at the service of man
The 25th anniversary of the election of Pope John Paul II will be celebrated from October 15 to 18 this year at the Vatican. In order to prepare for the commemoration of this pontificate at the service of man, and to highlight its historical significance, a colloquium will be held at the Vatican from May 8 to 10.
This colloquium is one of the first events which will take place on the occasion of the anniversary of the election. The highlight of this celebration will be the meeting of the college of Cardinals in Rome, at the invitation of the doyen of the cardinals, Joseph Ratzinger, and of the Secretary of State. from October 15 to 18.
The pontificate of John Paul II is thus being reviewed from top to bottom. Ever since May 8, 2003, many cardinals, have been giving talks about some of its aspects. The tone has been set by a congress at the Lateran University on the theme The Church at the service of Man.
John Paul II has expressed his satisfaction to the organizers for having chosen this theme. During every stage of my university life and my pastoral ministry, he said, one of the essential points of reference, for me has been attention to the person, placed at the heart of all philosophical and theological research.
Here we see the continuity of thought with Pope Paul VI in his famous speech given on December 7,1965, at the end of Vatican II: We also, we more than anyone, we have the cult of man, which was the starting point of a real Copernican revolution in the Church.
