Interview with Biblical Scholar Fr. Ugo Vanni, S.J.
ROME, MAR 27 (ZENIT.org).- In spite of the innumerable problems it experiences, the Holy Land continues to awaken great fascination, as demonstrated by John Paul II's visit from March 20-26. ZENIT interviewed Fr. Ugo Vanni, S.J., professor of Biblical Exegesis at the Pontifical Gregorian University, one of the principal experts in the world on St. John's Gospel, and asked him about what the Holy Places mean to Christians today.
-- Fr. Vanni: The Holy Land is where the events took place that give foundation to our faith. The following of Christ and his life are connected to a land. As John says in the Gospel, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." In other words, the incarnation and all that preceded it did not take place outside of time and space, but happened in a determined time and place that we call the Holy Land. Precisely for this reason, Paul VI said that, together with the salvation history to which we refer, there is a "geography of salvation." Salvation, this gift from God that he gives us through Christ, is linked to a geography and a place. For me the meaning of this intuition of Paul VI is very clear when I think of the fact that in the Holy Land every day the mysteries of Christianity are celebrated. In Bethlehem, Christmas - the birth of Jesus - is celebrated every day. In Nazareth, the Annunciation is lived. Every day in the Holy Sepulcher the death and resurrection of Jesus is celebrated. This only happens in the Holy Land. This simultaneous liturgical celebration explains very well what the "geography of salvation" means, and imprints on those places a very singular force. Therefore, to go to the Holy Land also means to receive a special influx of salvation, an impetus to live and understand Christianity better.
-- ZENIT: How do you evaluate the meaning and impact of the Pope's trip to the Holy Land?
-- Fr. Vanni: The pictures from the Pontiff's trip to the Holy Land have been impressive. To see this iron-willed man, for whom it is hard to follow the thrust of his mind and soul, brings to mind St. Paul's expression: "when I am weak, then I am strong." But, in addition to this human aspect, there is another element of a theological character that is very interesting. The one who has visited the Holy Land is the Vicar of Christ, the Pope, who launches the Church toward the third millennium; the Pontiff who opens a door to a new Christian era, in which we begin to see a new spring. From this point of view, some of the aspects of his itinerary take on a more profound meaning. For example, in the visit to Mount Nebo, where Moses ended his days, the Bible tell us that the prophet still had great vivacity, as he could read without difficulty. However, Moses was only able to glimpse the Promised Land. What has come to my mind is a comparison between this trip and the figure of Moses. The elderly Pope also has problems walking, but his spiritual vivacity carries him forward. Moses looked at the Promised Land without entering it. The Pope, on the contrary, leads the Church to the Promised Land. The Pope who has gone to the Holy Land is the one who steers the boat of the Church, which has the experiences of these 20 centuries, toward a new century of hope.
-- ZENIT: What are these signs of hope?
-- Fr. Vanni: There are many aspects that take on a new meaning from this perspective. I was impressed by the picture of the Pope when he met Yasser Arafat in Bethlehem. In the Square one could see the cross, the Muslim crescent and the star of David. The Pope took the Good News to that Square. To Christians he said, "onward"; to Muslims "like you, we are also descendents of Abraham"; and he called the Jews our "elder brothers."
When seeing that picture I recalled that passage in Genesis in which God says to Abraham "look at the stars, your descendants will be like that." Like the Muslims and Jews, we Christians are the stars who belong to Abraham's descendents. Therefore, the Pope went to overcome divisions. The Vicar of Christ said that we are all Abraham's children and that, consequently, we must appreciate one another, look at one another in the face, because we are like stars that reflect the same light.
The same can be said about the visit to the Holocaust Memorial. It was an overwhelming moment. The Pope took some small part in what was the Jewish people's tragedy. An infinite tragedy. The Pope imprinted a positive attitude when remembering the Shoah. It is true that it was a terrible tragedy, but we must not allow ourselves to be crushed by evil, we must continue to go forward, walking together. The Pope's message was clear: what we have suffered must give birth to something new, positive, of the same proportions as the evil suffered. This is salvation history, because resurrection comes from the cross.
All of us must look to the future; the suffering has been great, but we must see what extraordinary good will come to us from God. As Vicar of Christ, the Pope transmited the radiant perspective of a good that will compensate for the evil we have experienced.
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