Pope John Paul II, whom the
reigning Pontiff, Benedict XVI has happily agreed to include among the
Blessed, laid the foundation, opened the way for a profound
transformation of Church-State relations in Israel, leaving the Church
here a precious legacy to bear fruit.
December 11, 1992, in a keynote speech (though little noticed
at the time), at a conference of lawyers gathered at the Pontifical
Lateran University, John Paul II unveiled his vision for the Church,
even in the Middle East, no longer " protected ", but free and active,
with members who enjoy, not the status of a tolerated " minority ", but
enjoying full human and civil rights, on an equal footing with all their
fellow citizens.
At that time he was ready to sign the first example of
this new order, the Fundamental Agreement with Israel, which was
formally signed, by mandate of the Sovereign Pontiff, the 30th of the
same month (February 15, 2000 the same as basic agreement with the
Palestinians was signed).
It was a final farewell to thirteen centuries
of marginalization of the Church and of Christians in the region. As
suggested by the name itself , "fundamental", the Agreement is not
complete in itself, and requires a number of additional agreements, so
that the great promise that it represents can become a reality.
John
Paul II gave the mandate to sign a second agreement in 1997 guaranteeing
full civil recognition to the legal status of ecclesiastical bodies,
and then in 1999, bless the start of negotiations (still
ongoing) for an agreement for the protection of church property,
especially the Holy Sites, and its tax status.
The program includes
agreements on other issues, overshadowed by the fundamental,,
substantially on the residence of the clergy and religious from all
parts of Catholicism; on religious chaplaincy in prisons, the military
and in hospitals, on the fair presentation of Christ, Christianity and
the Church in schools.
But the legal treaties must be quickened by a true dialogue,
not only with the state, but with society, given the significance of the
enormous impact on Israeli public of Pope John Paul II’s witness during
the Pilgrimage of the Year 2000. So deeply affected were Israeli Jews
by his person and his words that, although little more than coldly
courteous on the eve of his arrival, at the Pope's departure, a large
majority told pollsters they wanted him proclaimed Chief Rabbi of the
Nation!
In order to persevere over time that beneficial influence
rooted in the consciousness of the people, and make it lasting, in 2003
the Pope appointed the first Bishop for Catholics in Israel of Jewish
expression. This Bishop (now dead – we are still waiting for a
successor) rendered the encounter between the Church with the
Hebrew-speaking Israelis "internal", he allowed the Church to relate to
the components of Israeli society of Jewish expression, not as "foreign
"but" within" their culture, their experience, and in their own
language, as is normal in every people and nation.
Too few and poor are these words to describe the legacy of John
Paul II on the Church in Israel. His memory, in particular invites us,
challenges us to go further forward, build and dare again, always anew,
always more.
And through the intercession of the Blessed John Paul II,
wholly of Mary because wholly of Christ, we can always ideally find
ourselves beside the Blessed Virgin Mary of Nazareth, as she listens to
and believes in the angel’s assurance "Nothing is impossible to God."