There were situations when heads of state were “scolded” by the Pope – for example, those from African countries with authoritarian ruling, whom the Holy Father invited to shake their conscience. We know that he had a strong character, he did not mince his words when it came to human rights, for indisputable values, he fought like a lion. He paid no attention to whether he was talking to the president of the United States or to the leader of one of the world’s totalitarian powers. What mattered was the message he wanted to convey to them. He often did it without pardon. He was very determined and often irritated by the fact that basic human rights are being violated in the world, especially when it comes to children. Many of the powerful of this world entered John Paul II full of arrogance and left polite and without a word. This was the case, for example, with sheikhs from Arab countries. How they sometimes poked their noses before entering! However, they were surprised by the way the Holy Father was, how sincerely and openly he welcomed them, how he was able to break down barriers and immediately shorten the distance.
Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi “It happened in the Vatican”
Znak Publishing House. Kraków 2020
