It was a genuine friendship. Carlo Ciampi (President of Italy) called John Paul II as “his older brother.” The last time they saw each other was a few days before the Pope’s death. Three years later, the former President of Italy told reporters: “When I approached him, he suddenly regained a little voice and whispered to me: “We will see each other in paradise. You deserve it.” He wanted everyone, including those who strayed, to go to paradise. In the year 2000, he met a former prostitute during the audience. The Archbishop recalls how the Pope stroked her on the head and how some criticized him for it. She came as a representative of the forty former daughter of Corinth, mainly from Africa. Father Benzi was taking care of them in the Italian Pastoral Center. It was him who brought them to St. Peter’s Square. Mary Magdalena also came to Christ. This audience was to show the world that no man is intended to live in sin, and therefore for the annihilation, that every person can change, can come to Christ and start a new life; already with Christ.
– Did the Holy Father comment on this meeting?
– Rather not, as usual. But, many times he has said that these meetings are just as important to him as those with Heads of State or Heads of the Church. Meetings with sick, lepers, with drug addicts, visits to prisons. He was going to all social groups, he did never avoid anyone; he did not reject anyone. He was not only with those faithful who were close to the Church, but above all, he was looking for lost sheep.
Archbishop Mokrzycki “He liked Tuesdays the most”
M Publisher, Kraków 2008
