Do not be afraid

The ceremonial inauguration of the pontificate took place on 22 October, 1978. It was then that the Pope delivered his programmatic homily, which was the announcement of the new pontificate.

Photo: Cyprian Grodzki OFM Conv

Pope John Paul II also said, in a loud voice, the significant words 'Do not be afraid! "Do not be afraid, open wide the doors to Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “that which is in man”. He alone knows it" It was a programme that placed Christ at the centre, but also focused on man. These two perspectives were very complementary to each other.

During the customary homagium, this is a homage paid by cardinals to the new bishop of Rome, a scene with Stefan Wyszyński echoed loudly. When the cardinal knelt before the Pope and kissed his ring, the Pope stood up, warmly embraced the primate and kissed his hand in a filial way. He completed that gesture the next day with words spoken to Stefan Wyszyński during an audience for the Poles: "The Polish Pope would not be on the chair of Peter today, beginning a new pontioficate, full of the fear of God, but also full of trust, had it not been for your faith, which did not retreat before prison and suffering. Were it not for your heroic hope, your unlimited trust in the Mother of the Church! Were it not for Jasna Gora, and the whole period of the history of the Church in our country, together with your ministry as Bishop and Primate!"