An Environmental Tribute to Karol Wojtyla: Pope John Paul II

Abstract

It was impossible for anyone to be in Poland from April second to April eighth of 2005 and not notice or participate in the unforgettable events commemorating the death of Polish icon - Pope John Paul II. Thanks to the Fulbright Fellowship during the 2004-2005 academic year that had me teaching and consulting at two universities, both in Poznan, Poland, I was able to be a part of these events in April. People all over the world paid their final tributes and participated in the last journey of the Bishop of Rome, their father, friend, teacher, and authority. However, the Polish people were especially devastated to lose their national symbol of truth, love and hope. The Polish nation will always remember the Pope as a persistent fighter against the destruction of human rights, freedom and nature. Poles will for many years have vivid memories of John Paul's speeches during his pilgrimages to his homeland when he encouraged people to express their support for the Solidarity movement and freedom. Yet I will also remember Pope John Paul II for his love of human dignity, freedom, his devotion to the environment, and deep ecological awareness. Those who knew him personally and worked with him while he was still a priest in Poland, will also remember his affection for the environment exemplified through the nature walks, tours, and hikes that he organized. As a survivor of the Second World War, Karol Wojtyla was no stranger to pain, suffering, and loss. These experiences helped him realize the necessity of sheltering life and of man's need for the beauty of nature, and they were a driving factor for his environmental consciousness and outspokenness. These lessons from the past and the Polish political climate drove Karol Wojtyla, as a young priest, to become the spiritual leader of the Krakow students' tourist group called (Environment) that he established in 1949. The main goal of the Srodowisko group was to enrich Eucharistic knowledge of Christ and to organize outdoor tours and cultural events in order to enhance the spiritual life of students while introducing them to the joys of nature that could give them intellectual escape and enrichment. Students were attracted to this group because it allowed them to escape from the influence of Stalinist doctrines and to look for alternative views and ways of spending their free time. Wojtyla organized many mountain hikes, walks, skiing trips, kayaking vacations, biking tours, and camping trips. These outdoor trips stimulated students and allowed them to participate in discussions, prayers, meditations, and also to establish meaningful friendships. The group's environmental activities continued after 1964 when Wojtyla became Metropolitan Bishop of Cracow . After becoming a Pope in 1978, Wojtyla wrote about how much the group helped him learn about family lives and friendships, and solidify his love for the environment (Polak, 2004, vol.30, p.36). John Paul II enjoyed skiing and he loved mountain hikes. The Polish Tatra Mountains (the highest range of Carpathian Mountains situated between Poland and Slovakia) were always a very special place for him. He strongly believed that people, by putting physical efforts into hiking or skiing, could be restored when the beauty of the mountains surrounded them. …