Pope Saint John Paul II: A
man attached to prayer
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| Pope Saint John Paul II |
In an interview, Polish Cardinal and personal secretary to
Pope Saint John Paul II, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, speaks on the personality
of the saint.
By Vatican News
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the
birth of Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope Saint John Paul II. Pope Francis, on
Monday morning, celebrated Mass at the altar where the saint is entombed in St.
Peter’s Basilica.
Saint John Paul II was elected Pope by the second papal
conclave of 1978 which was called after the death of Pope John Paul I who died
after a brief pontificate. Saint John Paul II’s papacy lasted from 1978 to
2005.
In an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Stanisław
Dziwisz, personal secretary to Pope Saint John Paul II, and Archbishop Emeritus
of Cracow, Poland, speaks about his experience of living and working with the
saint.
A man of prayer
Cardinal Dziwisz recalled that he lived with the saint after
he had been appointed a Cardinal by Paul VI in 1967, and continued after
Wojtyla became Pope. “The secret of his person is the depth of his spiritual
life,” Dziwisz said. “He always prayed, he learnt the value of prayer as a boy
and this aspect deepened afterwards.”
A man of kindness and love
“We must not forget his extraordinary personality,” stressed
Dziwisz. He notes that Saint John Paul II treated everyone with great respect
and love even if they were poor, weak or sick.
The Cardinal gave the example of a child sick with AIDS that
the saint met during his visit to San Francisco in the United States. He
recalled that the saint “took the child’s hands, kissed them, blessed them and
then gave the child back to his family.” This gesture, said Dziwisz, “was truly
more important than a sermon, especially at that time.”
The Polish Cardinal also pointed out that Saint John Paul II
created the atmosphere of a family with those he lived with in the pontifical
apartments. He remarked that the great simplicity and goodness of the saint
moved everyone to become more dedicated to their work.
“He left a great legacy that is important not only for
yesterday and today, but for the future.”
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