– Did he talk about resignation at home? Did he allow such a thought at all?
– He was rather calm. But, I remember once he mentioned that some people say he should resign. He talked about it with the Cardinals and everyone was against resigning. That affirmed the Holy Father that he should carry out his ministry to the end. Then, moreover, in one of his speeches, he said it plainly, so that there was no speculation that he would serve as long as God would allow. I he was serving; although, he was already very weak. The extent of his weakness we were able to see in Lourdes. He was still moving on his own, but in the Cave of Apparitions he fell from the kneeler. Father Stanisław immediately ran up and helped the Holy Father. John Paul II prayed there for a long time. There he also said these notable words: “Kneeling here at the Massabielle Grotto, I feel with emotion that I have reached the end of my pilgrimage.” He lit a candle and drank water from the spring. Just like all pilgrims do. Then, there was an unusual Rosary procession in the field. I remember when the Holy Father was driving in a Papamobile, people on the route knelt before him like before the Blessed Sacrament. I will admit I’ve never seen it before. In Lourdes, I saw it for the first time and it made a huge impression on me.
– And, was it impressive on the Holy Father? Was he touched?
– In his own way, for sure, but he never showed it after himself. The Holy Father was a tough man. Certainly, he was very grateful, very much. And, he tried to give back the love he was getting from people. He did not underestimate anyone. He wanted to serve everyone. I remember from the stories heard, that when he was younger, he could pick up a handkerchief, because it fell behind the barrier. When someone from the crowd wanted to approach him and the police protested, he protested himself and the police had to agree. As he passed among the faithful during the pilgrimage, I heard them crying with joy: “He looked at me!”, “He saw me!” It is as if he touched with his eyes each of them, each individually. He had an extraordinary gift. (…) As he walked among the crowds, I felt as if the Lord God was walking with him. As if the shadow of the Lord God passed us.
With the permission of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki –“He liked Tuesdays the most”
M Publishing House, Krakow 2008
