Cardinal, rabbi share 'Blessing'
May 21, 2005
During the world premiere of "A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People" at Xavier University on Wednesday night, a cardinal and a rabbi were the first to make their way through the exhibit.
(The Enquirer, May 19, 2005) The interactive exhibit, which opens to the public today, follows the path of Pope John Paul II through his life, from childhood to his role as head of the Catholic Church.
The show also chronicles the pope's contributions to reconciling Catholics and Jews. He was the first pope to recognize and make an official visit to Israel.
After finishing the exhibit, Cardinal Edward Cassidy from Australia, former president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Commission for Religious Relations with Jews, paused to write down a prayer: "I pray the blessings may continue."
Then Rabbi Jack Bemporad, director for the Center for Interreligious Understanding, wrote down his own prayer: "God should help us not to heal our pain or our hurt by hurting others."
Photographs, video footage, artifacts and documents tell the pope's story in four parts.
"The exhibit is absolutely marvelous," Cassidy said.
"It's not just looking at things. It's a walk through an extraordinary life," he said.
The first section, 1920 to 1938, centers on future pope Karol Wojtyla and his experiences in Poland, growing up in an apartment owned by a Jewish family and becoming friends with many Jewish children. Here visitors can see how the city of Wadowice looked through Wojtyla's bedroom and view his baptismal certificate and school records.
The second part, 1939 to 1945, focuses on World War II in occupied Poland. During this time, Wojtyla studied underground while he was working in a factory. Visitors enter this section through a replica of the Krakow Ghetto gate and can see artifacts from the Holocaust, including prayer shawls and shoes confiscated at Auschwitz.
The third section, 1946 to 1977, concentrates on the ministry of Wojtyla, as he goes from priest to bishop to cardinal. This portion of the exhibit includes Wojtyla's personal items, including a watch, pen, personal notes, books and a biretta that belonged to him when he was a cardinal.
The last section, from 1978 to 2005, celebrates the papacy of Pope John Paul II. Here artifacts include papal vestments, a lamp and other ceremonial objects.
"This really gives you an understanding of his soul from within," said Bemporad.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for anybody who wants insight into the inner spirit of this man," he said.
The highlight of the exhibit is at the end. A large photograph depicts the pope's historic visit to Jerusalem's Western Wall in 2000. A replica of the wall stands next to the photo. The public is invited to write anonymous prayers and place them in the replica of the wall.
The prayers will be brought to the Western Wall in Israel later.
The final object in the exhibit is a bronze cast of Pope John Paul II's hand. Visitors are encouraged to touch it before leaving.
Cardinal, rabbi share 'Blessing'