John Paul II

[Joseph Durham]

John Paul II's Silhouette Seen in Bonfire

Publisher Surprised at International Reaction

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 16, 2007 (Zenit.org).- A photo of a bonfire taken in southern Poland, in which a silhouette resembling that of Pope John Paul II can be seen, has drawn international media attention.

Polish cameraman Gregorz Lukasic photographed an April 2 memorial service held at Beskid Zywiecki, close to John Paul II's birthplace of Wadowice, commemorating the second anniversary of the Pontiff's death. He took many pictures of the event, but only in the photo he took at the exact time of the Holy Father's death a silhouette appears resembling that of the Pope.

The image was published Monday by Father Jarek Cielecki, director of the Italian television station Vatican Service News. Father Cielecki told ZENIT that he was not anticipating such a widespread reaction, noting that the image had been picked up by the international press.

"I don't say that it is a miracle. I am not talking of a sensational thing," Father Cielecki said. "But it is clear that a sign is there. One can't say that he sees nothing.

"For me, it is a sign, because one has to take into account the place and the moment the photo was taken. The photographer took two photos each minute. You can only see the image in the one taken at 9:37 p.m. and 30 seconds. In the others, there is nothing recognizable in the flames.

"The photo has been analyzed scientifically and it has been shown that it hasn't been modified."

A miracle?

Legionary of Christ Father Thomas D. Williams, dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university in Rome, said: "God speaks to us in any way that he chooses, so miracles of this sort are not ruled out.

"There is no doubt that the photo bears an uncanny resemblance to Pope John Paul II, and the fact that the photo was taken on April 2, the anniversary of the Pope's death, is, if nothing else, a remarkable coincidence.

"No one is obliged to believe this, and the Church will never offer an official ruling that something miraculous has occurred here. Nonetheless, those who choose to see the hand of God in this will find encouragement in the thought that John Paul continues to intercede for us from heaven, which is undoubtedly the case."

"Our faith is not based on this sort of event," Father Williams added, "but God does send us many signs of his presence and providential care, so there is no reason this could not be one of them."

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In His Service,

 

God bless,

 

Joseph W. Durham <><

 

"When you let God become the Author of your life, it becomes the greatest story ever told." - Joseph Durham