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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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 | | "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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