Pope John Paul II made a nostalgic visit home to Poland from May 31 to June 10, and some observers wonder if it was his last trip to his native land. To many, he gave that impression as he included among his usual official functions a few personal stop-overs that recalled his youth and early years as a priest and bishop.
As he nears 80, a man who has been shot and who battled through several serious operations, the Pope knows he is not immortal. Time is ticking against him, as it does against us all. But he has also proved to be enormously resilient. Counted out numerous times when he seemed to be failing in health, the pontiff rallied strongly. With his being in the Vatican for nearly 20 years, there now are students in college who have known no other pope in their lifetimes and 30-year-olds who only vaguely recall his predecessors.
It was touching to watch the Pope as he traveled through his homeland. This week, reflecting on the visit, he noted some of the themes of his trip: the spiritual, cultural and ethical development of Poland and other European countries; the work of St. Adalbert, who was martyred 1,000 years ago; progress in ecumenism; and reconciliation and peace, both in Poland and worldwide. But he also mentioned the private moments: the mountain resort of Zakopane and its people; the southern city of Czestochowa where he venerated the icon of the Black Madonna; and the graves of his parents.
John Paul called the trip ``a returning to the roots and receiving from them new strength to respond fully to the will of God.''
As we plan our summer vacations, we might profit from his example. We can all make literal trips home to our birthplaces to find similar revivification and to replant our roots. With leisure time in coming months, we can also return figuratively and more deeply to our spiritual homes -- prayer, the Bible, the Mass, the Eucharist and Jesus -- in order to ``respond more fully to the will of God.''