We thought that the crisis was behind us. That it will get better now. It looked like it. He was stronger, somehow more joyful. I think he also felt that his strength was coming back. And, he enjoyed it. But, the joy did not last long. Until Wednesday. The Holy Father spoke from the library during the General Audience – says the Archbishop. In the Paul VI Hall there were large screens. And, crowds of believers. The Pope greeted the Poles and appealed to us to open our hearts to a sincere and profound conversion. I remember that. And, in the evening – an attack. Some cramps. Cardinal Jaworski gave the Holy Father the anointing of the sick. It looked bad. And, as usually, the Holy Father was calm. Dr. Buzzonetti came and said that he had to go to the hospital for tests. In the morning it was better. And, then worse again. The cramps were back. The Pope was losing his breath. It was quickly decided that it was necessary to go to the hospital. They went to Gemelli. Doctors immediately said that it was necessary to operate – recalls the former Papal secretary. This was due to Parkinson’s disease, which intensified attacks. That’s how they explained to us. Fluid was accumulating in the lungs. The Holy Father could no longer control the muscles of the esophagus. It was Thursday, February 24th. As the Archbishop says, John Paul II did not want the operation. He wanted to postpone it until the summer – he recalls. He didn’t say why. He said to postpone these few months. Maybe he was hoping that he would be okay. But, the doctors had no doubt that it cannot wait. They persuaded both secretaries and the Pope that it was necessary to operate immediately. It was related to tracheotomy. Finally, we also began to convince the Holy Father – says Archbishop Mokrzycki. We were convincing him a lot. And, he finally agreed. He just wanted to know if he would regain his voice after the operation. We promised – as the doctors told us – that the voice would come back, that they would do their best to make it happen. This reassured him. The operation, like his entire life, he entrusted to Mary.
With the consent of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “Place for everyone”
Znak Publishing House, Kraków 2013.
