At 7 p.m., John Paul II loses consciousness. Two secretaries, Father Styczeń, Archbishop Ryłko, Cardinal Jaworski, Father Czesław Drążek and Prelate Konrad Krajewski, are by his bedside. There are also Sacred Heart nuns, doctors, and nurses. There is Dr. Wanda Półtawska, who was healed thanks to the Karol Wojtyła’s prayers that took place years ago. At 8 p.m., priests celebrate holy Mass. After the Mass, the nuns pray the Rosary. They are crying. Archbishop Dziwisz holds the Pope by the hand. Everyone looks at the monitor and prays. The heart stops beating. It’s 9.37 p.m. As soon as the Holy Father died, Father Stanisław intoned “Te Deum”. It was difficult for me. As how could we sing “God, we praise You” when someone so close has just passed away. How to rejoice and praise the Lord?
– Did you felt bad about it?
– Yes. I thought that this was not the right song for the moment. Such, in a human way. But, I quickly realized that it was life and death for the glory of God.
– You finished singing and what happened then?
– The Secretariat of State shall be notified. A papal ceremonial is coming, who prepares the Holy Father for the funeral. He washes, dresses. At that time, the nearest people must leave the room. Then the Holy Father is transferred to a private chapel. The bedroom is closed and our role ends.
– Did you cry after the death of the Holy Father?
– I was sorry, but I held back tears. I cried earlier, but do not write about it…,
– It is not a shame. Everyone cried (…)
– Did you feel lonely? Abandoned?
– Yes. Especially since we had to leave the papal apartment so quickly… These are the procedures. That was the hardest part.
– Who organized the belongings of the Holy Father?
– We could have organized them before the Holy Father died. But, then there was no time and the means to deal with it. We were taking care of the Holy Father. He needed us. And, after his death everything was closed, sealed. Vatican’s property.
And then there was Friday and the funeral. Fluttering Cardinals robes and the Evangel which closes itself at the top of the cypress coffin’s top. The Second Secretary of John Paul II reads these symbols as simply as he could. It was fulfilled. He closes his eyes and sees the Holy Father putting on a cape and walking to the terrace…
With the permission of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki –“He liked Tuesdays the most”
