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There is something of a syndrome that great Poles are cut down in their prime. There was Napoleon's dashing marshal, Jozef Poniatowski, who drowned in the River Elbe, and World War II Commander General Sikorski, who died in a mysterious plane crash in 1943. And then there are the legions of artists from Chopin to Wyspianski who all fell before their time.
In May 1981 it looked like the same fate was due for Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II. He had just ascended the throne of St. Peter's, and his visit to Poland in 1979 had provided the catalyst for the heroic Solidarity protest movement. Moscow was tearing its hair out. Of all the people in the world who might have been elected Pope, Wojtyla was their nightmare choice.
Then the assassin's bullet struck.
Perhaps we'll never know whether the attempt on the Pope's life was organized by the KGB. A new inquiry has just been prompted after Bulgarian Cold War files relating to the case were found sopping wet in an old storeroom. But either way, Poland's best-loved son survived. Not only did he survive, he went on. In fact he went on and on and on - seeing out the collapse of the Iron Curtain in 1989 as well as Poland's accession to the EU in 2004. In the meantime he zoomed back and forth across the world with all the energy of a twenty year old.
To the Poles he was a hero. Certainly, it would be wrong to claim that all Poles agreed with every policy of their Pope. But this did little to diminish their pride and affection for him. He is remembered here in Cracow (where he eventually became archbishop for 15 years) as an extraordinarily warm and caring soul who always had time for his flock. Cracovians called him Uncle. He was a keen sportsman, who hiked, canoed and skied at any given opportunity, often with groups of loyal students. And his sense of humour rarely failed. When he was awarded the Cardinal's hat, someone suggested that it was inappropriate for a man in such a position to ski. He replied with typical wit: "It is unbecoming for a cardinal to ski badly!"
The news that Pope Benedict XVI had begun the process for the canonization of his predecessor was warmly received by the Poles. For many in the West, the concept of sainthood is a somewhat peculiar one. However, given that millions of Poles are already praying to John Paul, this is a most natural step. Pope John Paul II will join an elite group of Cracow saints, the first of whom, St. Stanislas, was canonised in 1253. Cracow has been a destination for pilgrims since its earliest days, a tradition that will only strengthen with the canonization of John Paul. Cracow's 'Uncle' may not have been buried here in the end, but the echoes of his presence can be witnessed all around, from statues to churches to his former home itself, the centuries old Archbishop's palace.
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 | | "I believe this picture is very revealing to those with eyes to see! First, you see two Catholic leaders wearing Yarmakas on their heads which is Jewish. Second, 2 of them have huge noses which is a Jewish trait. Pope John Paul's mother's name was Wanda Katz which is Jewish. Question: Is the Catholic Church Christian or Jewish? The Christian faith and Jewish beliefs are completely opposite. What's up with this? You decide!" | Chattan
United States
Jun.26.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "An inspiration. A humble and kind man. Thank you...." | Lindsay
United States
Jun.25.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Pope John Paul II was an amazing man. Thank you for putting this up. Hope to visit Krakow one day. " | Alison
United States
May.28.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "He was a great guy indeed, humble and all, i saw him was in Peru, but my question is: where does it say in the bible that there should be pope? i read it through and through but nothing,, anybody a hint?" | Mike
Netherlands
Apr.23.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Love forever...(*)" | Bart
United States
Apr.01.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I went to see Pope John Paul 11 in 1979 in Dublin. I can't explain the feeling I had inside me then, it was like Our Lord was amongst us. There will never be another Pope like him he communicated with his flock. Sadly missed. " | Veronica Letsome
Ireland
Mar.24.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Pope John Paul II you were one of, if not the greatest man to ever live. You have changed the lives of many for the better and lit up the world in ways which cannot be explained. We all miss you so much and hopefully one day we will be with you once again! God bless your soul!" | David
Malta
Feb.19.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "false prophet just like the bible says in rev" | billy
Canada
Feb.14.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Ivan Pavao jedan i jedini. Pavle spasi nas od grmlja i stabla, inace svi cemo na skrge disat." | Dražen
Russia
Dec.15.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Wake up Catholics, the pope is a false prophet. You are warned in the bible about wolve's in sheeps clothing. I will never step into a Catholic church again. I chose to worship the king of kings without the evil catholic church between myself and the lord obstructing the truth.
" | David
Australia
Nov.04.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i lost my mom last 2004. then when the holy father died, i feel the same pain. a great pain! i missed my mother, my brother and my father. who died last year 2007 and this year. same thing with the pope. i mssed him a lot. its a great pleasure to see him in manila year2005. during world youth day. its one of my greatest memories of the pope. he is the greatest man! holy father... i love and miss you so much!" | pip
Philippines
Oct.18.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "he was the best" | betty
United States
Oct.13.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i went to his house he actually lives behind a church and thats is why he got into minestry just think if it wasnt for that church the world would have missed his greatness all together" | sarah
United States
Oct.07.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "The Pope of my century. Aman of the world, Loving to all races of the world, holy, humble, and one who could associate with all ages.Lover of peace." | Margaret Wamukoya
Barbados
Aug.25.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "We miss you heaps,
ILY Lots" | Isabella
Australia
Aug.22.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Pope John Paul you were awsome. We all miss you here at St. Martin Of Tours School down in Stoney Creek Ontario. All The best." | Kevin Di Sanza
Canada
Jun.11.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "i am going to visit your home of krakov where i will remember you in my prayers for all you done for us." | mary
United Kingdom
Jun.05.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Papa John Paul II, I miss you soooo much. Thank you for all you have done, and for your prayers now." | Rich
United States
May.04.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "St. Pope John II is a great kind and caring person. I love him and look up to him. I just wished the website would have more about him." | Indigo
United Kingdom
Apr.21.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "he was the most beautiful, forgiving and modest person I can think of " | AG
Poland
Mar.29.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "he was a great man! and i am writing a project for school about him at school. he had te courage to forgive!" | MB
United States
Feb.20.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i love the pops so much i miss him i miss the way he looks i think was brilliant" | jamiepoooo
Albania
Jan.24.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "pope john paul was the best man that i have seen in my life and i am thankfull for knowing the pope i meet the pope when i went on a trip to mexico i loved his kindness and the love he had for every ono he was a great man and i am happy that i meet him onec and felt his hands .R.I.P we all love you pope john paul 2" | joseline portillo
Canada
Jan.16.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "JOHN PAUL UNTIL THE END OF TIME" | Brendan Kealey
Ireland
Nov.30.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Blessed is the humble for God will exalt him. Pope John Paul was the defender of faith, the opressed and the unborn. A man of love, charity, faith, humility, forgiveness and compassion." | Bernadette
Australia
Nov.24.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "the true pope he was cause he decided to forgive the man who shooted at him,acording to the lords prayer." | dan ochola
Kenya
Nov.05.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i loved when he was alive and i was happy when he died because he now is a saint in heaven with the holy father; GOD" | Maya Warszawska
United States
Oct.30.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Without pope John Paul the Second Poland would still be lost...He was a great man." | Ryan Harvey
United States
Sep.23.2007
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "Saint John Paul is the reason for my return to the Catholic church/faith after 20 plus years of wandering" | Joseph Szepietowski
United States
Sep.22.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i am not catholic but i too had a great respect for pope john paul - he was a grand man" | thelma roberts
United Kingdom
Sep.21.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "My beautiful Pope John Paul, I am asking for your help in the healing of my sister Martha who suffers from Lupus.
Anna" | Anna
United States
Jun.19.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "A man that showed us how to love, care, pray and forgive. A true example and the pride of our Catholic faith. " | Diego
United States
Jun.06.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "We have prayed to Pope J.P.II and have recieved many MIRACLES(both large and small). We have no doubt that he is a saint!!!" | sharon
United States
May.21.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "We miss you so much Holy Father. You are in our hearts always, and fill us with hope and love." | Jan
United Kingdom
Apr.29.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "We miss him so much..." | Michael
United Kingdom
Apr.23.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I have walked in his footsteps. wonderful." | Eileen
United Kingdom
Apr.22.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "FANTASTIC JOHN PAUL II IS STILL WITH US ! IN THE KRAKOWIANS HARTS " | johny
United States
Apr.10.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "nothing but the truth" | Edward
Ireland
Mar.14.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "beatiful person !" | mona
United States
Mar.13.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
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