Pope John Paul II Wanted to Consecrate Russia by Name But Didn’t

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ROME (ChurchMilitant.com) - The same day that Cdl. Raymond Burke called for Russia to be consecrated by name, another cardinal confirmed that Pope St. John Paul II had also wanted to do just that but had refrained owing to political pressure.

During his homily given on May 13, Cdl. Paul Josef Cordes, former president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, confirmed that John Paul II had wanted specifically to name Russia during his consecration of "all individuals and peoples" on March 25, 1984.

Cardinal Cordes revealed, "He himself had made this consecration on March 25, 1984 when the statue of Mary came from Fatima to Rome. However, he had refused to specifically name Russia because Vatican diplomats had urged him not to mention this country because otherwise political conflicts might arise."

This same fact had been revealed two years earlier by Fr. Gabriele Amorth, who at the time was the chief exorcist of Rome. "I was there on March 25 [1984] in St. Peter's Square; I was in the front row, practically within touching distance of the Holy Father," related Fr. Amorth during an interview in December of 2015. "John Paul II wanted to consecrate Russia, but his entourage did not, fearing that the Orthodox would be antagonized, and they almost thwarted him."

The famous late exorcist continued:

Therefore, when His Holiness consecrated the world on his knees, he added a sentence not included in the distributed version that instead said to consecrate "especially those nations of which you yourself have asked for their consecration." So, indirectly, this included Russia. However, a specific consecration has not yet been made. You can always do it.

It should be noted that on May 13, Cdl. Burke, former prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, didn't formally question the validity of this consecration. He merely asked that it be repeated using the specific name of Russia as directed by Our Lady of Fatima.

"Certainly, Pope St. John Paul II consecrated the world, including Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 1984," said Cdl. Burke. "But, today, once again, we hear the call of Our Lady of Fatima to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart, in accord with her explicit instruction."

Some countries, like Canada, have repeatedly consecrated their country to Mary's Immaculate Heart without calling into question former consecrations.

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