In Warsaw, I reported to Miodowa Street at the marked hour. On the spot I found that three other priests were called with me: a Silesian, Fr Wilhelm Pluta, a parish priest from Bochnia in the diocese of Tarnów, Fr Michał Blecharczyk and Fr Józef Drzazga from Lublin. At first, I did not pay attention to this coincidence. Later I understood that they had been called for the same purpose as me.
When I entered the office of the Primate, I heard from him that the Holy Father had appointed me Auxiliary Bishop of the Archbishop of Krakow. In February, of the same year (1958) died Bishop Stanisław Rospond, who for many years was an Auxiliary Bishop in Krakow during the Ordinariate of the Metropolitan Prince Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapiecha.
Hearing the words of the Primate announcing the decision of the Holy See, I said: ‘Your Eminence, I am too young; I am only 38 years old’.
But the Primate replied: ‘This is such a weakness from which we heal quickly. Please do not oppose the will of the Holy Father.”
So, I said one word: “I accept.” “Well, we will go to dinner” – the Primate concluded.
He invited all four of us to dinner. (…)
At the end of this important audience in my life, I understood that at the moment I could not go back to my friends for kayaking; I had to go to Krakow and inform Archbishop Eugeniusz Baziak, my Ordinary. While waiting for the night train to Krakow, I prayed in the chapel of the Ursuline Sisters in Warsaw at Wiślna Street for many hours.
John Paul II. “Get up, let’s go!”
St. Stanislaus BM Publishing House. Cracow 2004.
