By Kelly John Walker, from August issue of FreedomTalk Magazine
“It might be tempting to characterize Pope John Paul II as the political foe who vanquished communism. But that would be untrue. His position challenged communism in the metaphysical realm, not in the political arena. His message was never one advocating political positioning. Rather, he understood that the error of communism lay in its fundamental understanding of man, who is not merely a unit of labor engaged in a perpetual class struggle, as Marx claimed, but a creature made in the image of God, with a soul and an eternal destiny. John Paul II never took his eyes off God, his heart and mind like a compass pointing to true North. He encouraged people to love God more deeply, to cherish relationships with the people they love, and to obey God with abandon. He challenged communism on his knees, praying to God, ‘Thy will be done.’” -Barbara J. Elliot
Over the past four years, I have been laboring in my soul over the question, “What can I do to help defeat Communism?” and, “Which strategies can stop this spreading evil specter, if any.” I have found the answer in Nine Days that Changed the World, the story of one man’s courage, faith and determination to free the people of Poland, and indeed of the world. While I am not Catholic, as a witness to the Cold War and the fall of Soviet Communism, I consider Karol Wojtyła—the man who became Pope John Paul II—one of the 20th-Century’s greatest heroes. This man’s faith brought Soviet Communism to its knees.
“I am asking that you would take this entire spiritual inheritance…once again receive it with faith, hope and love…that you would not, by yourself, cut off the roots that we came from.” -Pope John Paul II Warsaw, June 2, 1979
For half a century, the embattled European nation of Poland experienced the Orwellian dystopia many of us fear is descending upon the United States. Poles call World War II “The War we lost twice,” as they were first defeated by the Nazis in 1939, and then the Soviets in 1945. Fully one-fifth of the nation’s population was decimated during that brief period of time. That would be equivalent to 67 million Americans perishing in just six years.
Yet, John Paul believed that God was bringing good things from the ashes of that immense suffering, if only people had the faith to see it.
“Why has the United States never known the tragedy of totalitarianism that we met in the 20th Century? Naziism, Communism, Anti-semitism…It is possible, or an important part of the answer depends on, the circumstance that American society maintains a powerful religious sentiment, when Europe, instead, is losing it.” -Italian Senator Marcello Pera
John Paul rightly recognized that ultimately, the battle against Communism is a spiritual one. He believed that ONLY by turning to God could Communism be defeated. There as no political, military, or other way to defeat it. This made me think that, in fighting the Left, we must be careful not to become them.
As the must-see documentary by Newt Gingrich points out, a PEACEFUL REVOLUTION of unprecedented magnitude rippled across the continent throughout 1989 in a political, moral, and spiritual earthquake that changed the course of history. The rest of the Soviet Union would tumble two years later in the aftershock. Nearly 400 million people were freed and scarcely a shot was fired.
In his first speech, the first non-Italian pope in 400 years said words that began to give people hope: “DO NOT BE AFRAID!” Liberation from fear was the psychological step that began the demise of European Communism.
John Paul helped people in bondage under the Soviet machine understand that no one can take away your faith. He came to “change this land,” and acted upon that declaration.
“His power and his arms were the Truth,” said one eyewitness to the Pope’s 1979 Poland visit. “And that is the most dangerous weapon [against] criminals.”
“To defend the Cross was to defend man,” said Monsignor Jaroslaw Cielecki, “to defend his values, to defend his future life.”
In his courageous defense of the Cross and the dignity of man, Pope John Paul II awakened solidarity among a people desperate to regain their freedom by returning them to their spiritual roots. “These people understood that this is the right road, that when we’re really all together, we are a force, and the enemy is helpless.”
“Let Your Spirit descend and renew the face of the earth and this land!” -Pope John Paul II Warsaw, June 2, 1979
“Long before he became Pope, Karol Wojtyła had concluded that the conflict with Communism was ultimately a conflict in the realm of the spirit,” wrote Barbara J. Elliot. “Communism is unambiguously atheistic. Its premise is that man is a unit of labor…”
Father Jan Andrzej explains, “I would say for a fuller understanding of man can only be found through Jesus Christ.” He stood up for human rights under the understanding that for Cardinal Wojtyla, and then John Paul II, the issue of fighting Communism was not an issue of fighting a certain political system, but rather with a certain concept of man. John Paul II said that you cannot understand man without Christ. What does that mean? You cannot treat a man like a piece of equipment. Every person is given by God his or her own dignity. Man cannot be treated as a means, but always as an end.”
“Revolution is an occurrence in the realm of Spirit.” -Józef Tischner, Polish theologian
When John Paul spoke in Poland, he had to pause for a full 14 minutes, as people chanted: “We want God! We want God in our schools! We want God in the family! We want God in books! We want God! We want God!”
John Paul responded, “The people are preaching with me! Christ cannot be kept out of the history of man in any part of the globe. The exclusion of Christ from the history of man is an act against man.”
“Poland had been unique in its response: “Faced with that crisis of humanism in an acute form, Poland had responded by intensifying its Christian faith,” wrote Elliot. “At the deepest level, the source of ethics is what binds a culture together,” he told them…’ The future of Poland will depend on how many people are mature enough to be nonconformist,’ he said, emphasizing the word ‘mature’…the Pope had emphasized dignity and restraint as necessary qualities for followers of Christ.”
“If Democracy is built not on truth, but if it’s built on moral relativism, it will crash as well. Because democracy can only function where people live up to the convictions that they have, where people are clear about human identity, about human finality, about what is goodness, what is truth.” -Father Wojciech Giertych, Theologian
“His message lifted up the people of Poland and called forth the memory of their authentic history, culture, and identity. The Polish people heard and remembered who they really were.’
We, my friends, must do the same.
Kelly John Walker is an American statesman, senior writer, and entrepreneur. He is Editor-in-Chief of FreedomTalk Magazine, and a freelance writer published in The Washington Times, Gateway Pundit, The Epoch Times, George Magazine, Andrew Magazine, Townhall, and more. Kelly holds a BA in English & Theology, and a Master of Science degree on a graduate fellowship with the US Department of Defense. He had a distinguished career as a conservation professional before founding two award-winning advertising agencies.
