Zarys i konsekwencje myśli teodycealnej Jana Pawła II

The aim of the article Outline and Consequences of Theodicy of John Paul II is to present the main ideas of the Polish pope on suffering (the moral evil is not analyzed). In Crossing the Threshold of Hope he accuses theodicy of judging God himself, of being a kind of Pilate. His main document on the suffering Salvifici doloris brings us a variety of answers, including contradictory ones. For on the one hand the pope declares suffering to be a mystery, but on the other hand he gives quite clear, ‘not mysterious' solutions of suffering (a punishment, a trial, an occasion to do good, suffering for the salvation of others). It is surprising to realize that on other occasions he decisively abolishes the Old Testament's conviction by saying that suffering cannot be called a punishment. The main idea of Salvifici doloris is, however, his view that human suffering can have a redemptive value. The article goes in more detail about the consequences of this view.