He always carried his compatriots very deeply in his heart, he always thought about them and for Poland and Poles he did a lot. Real crowds of guests from that country were coming to the Vatican. John Paul II especially loved private meetings, those in the evening, with not too many groups, in the Clementine Hall. At that time, a lot of Poles came, two hundred – three hundred people at a time. On Sunday, about eighteen o’clock, I often served in the Court of Saint Damasus, where all these pilgrims gathered. I remember how much the Pope was looking forward to these meetings. He talked to many people, devoted time, attention, posed for commemorative photos, blessed them.
At that time, there was a normal, family, cordial atmosphere in the Vatican. And, this was felt throughout the palace. The Pope had an inexplicable charisma, an incredible ability to attract crowds. St. Peter’s Square was often filled with the number of one hundred – one hundred and fifty thousand faithful. First of all, the Pope reached young people. I myself have seen many times with what great freedom he spoke, he was able to reach them, establishing a unique kind of dialogue, maintaining their style of communication; he was able to show them the way, to lead those who got lost to the right path. He provoked emotions difficult to describe. In the eyes of the people who seemed to be made from the rock, tears were appearing during the meeting with him. His amazing eyesight made people approach God Himself.
Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi “It happened in the Vatican”
Znak Publishing House. Kraków 2020
pages: 117 – 118
