– What was your last farewell with John Paul II like?
(tears appeared in the eyes of Archbishop Mokrzycki) It was on saturday, April 2, in the afternoon. On that day, the Pope fell asleep from time to time, then woke up conscious and aware of what was happening. Around 4:00 p.m., I walked over to him. I just said: “Holy Father, Bóg zapłać (religious: thank you). Thank you for everything and I ask for your blessing.” John Paul II could no longer speak. He looked at me for a long time and made the sign of the cross. Then other members of the household approached.
Before 8 p.m. the last Holy Mass in the life of the Pope began. He was still conscious; he received his last Holy Communion. Around 9 p.m., doctors said the heart rate was weakening. We stood by him. In complete silence. At 9:37 p.m., the heart stopped beating. The doctor showed it on the electrocardiogram. I saw a straight line.
– Fr Stanisław Dziwisz started singing.
– “We praise you God”. And, again there was silence. Only after a while we understood that this is a thanksgiving to God for a great, wonderful, holy Pope. We started singing very hard and loudly.
– And then …
– There were days from which I do not remember much. I carried within me some great regret that the person I loved was no longer there; that I won’t talk to him anymore, I won’t be able to help. There was also anxiety. What’s next? What about the Church, what about the world?
Secretary of two Holy Fathers – conversation with Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki.
Wydawnictwo Literackie Publishing House
