In 2004, the Holy Father was already weaker, he had health problems. A huge delegation arrived with the President of the United States. After a four-eyed conversation, the meeting with all the guests who arrived did not take place as usual in the library, but next door, in the much larger Clementine Hall. The Holy Father prepared a speech in English. But that day from the morning he had trouble speaking. It was agreed that if the trouble with speaking will continue, the text would read the Prefect of the Pontifical House, Archbishop James Harvey who was American. The moment of the meeting came. The Holy Father began to read. Very slowly, he tried, though with difficulty, to clearly pronounce every word. Fr. Stanisław and I looked at the Prefect. He gave a sign that everything is fine and the text is understandable. The Pope finished reading, there was a farewell. The other day, I saw how differently each event could be interpreted. American journalists published reports of the meeting. They referred to the Pope’s opposition to the war with Iraq. Next to the text is a huge photo of President Bush and John Paul II. In one major newspaper, the caption appeared under the photo: “John Paul II: I read this speech slowly, because I want you to understand it all!”
Secretary of two Popes – conversation with Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki.
Wydawnictwo Literackie Publishing House
