When, in February 1986, Karol Wojtyła was leaving the Home of Dying, Nirmal Hriday Ashram, he was visibly taken over, moved. Together with Mother Teresa, he stopped at the beds of men and women on the threshold of death; he was feeding lepers. When he went outside, in a gesture of gratitude to all the Missionaries of Charity for their extraordinary proof of love, he embraced Mother Teresa and hugged her firmly. In his strong arms she seemed even more delicate and fragile.
One of the people standing next to them later told me that she had heard the Holy Father say to Mother Teresa, “If I could, I would be Pope from here.” I never asked if he actually said that, it seemed to me a question too intimate to ask. I am going back to that meeting and I think that such a statement seems very likely. The Pope was visibly moved by the sight of Christ crucified in the tormented body of those people. Standing right next to Mother Teresa, in the concrete situation of her daily life and ministry, he once again realized that man can achieve a sense of complete happiness in an absolutely selfless sacrifice to others. Mother Teresa was a happy person.
With the consent of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “Testimony”.
TBA marketing communication Publishing House. Warsaw 2007
