Introduction to The Roman Triptych (trans. P. Mikulska)

Patrycja MIKULSKA

John Paul II Institute, Faculty of Philosophy, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland , Poland

Abstract

Looking for the key to the understanding and appreciation of John Paul II’s poem The Roman Triptych, the author argues for the hermeneutic approach to the text. He proceeds to discuss the problem the possibility to express metaphysical and theological concepts in the language of poetry and the ways of such expression. In his interpretation of the poem, he emphasizes its visual, and at the same time visionary character. He concludes with a reflection on the reasons that led the Pope back to writing poetry. In his analyses Reale refers to such authors as: Benedtto Croce, Paul Valéry, Thomas S. Eliot, and James Hillmann.

Summarized by Patrycja Mikulska

 

The present article is a Polish translation of the Introduction to the Italian-Polish edition of John Paul II’s poem The Roman Triptych. See Giovanni Paolo II, Trittico Romano. Meditazioni. Testo originale polacco a fronte, trans. G. Miller (Città del Vaticano: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2003), 7-18.

Keywords:

John Paul II, hermeneutics, metaphysics, theology, poetry, visualness, visionary, Benedetto Croce, Paul Valéry, Thomas S. Eliot, James Hillmann