I remember the situation when he was about to celebrate a solemn Holy Mass in the Vatican Basilica. There were a lot of people waiting for him inside. The Pope already had more and more difficulties with walking at that time and was brought from the Apostolic Palace to the Basilica by car. At the height of Michelangelo’s Pietà, he would get out of the car and go inside the church to prepare for the celebration. One of the secretaries of the Holy Father, a Vietnamese, getting out of the car, did not notice that the Pope was holding his hand in the open door. He slammed the door, slamming his fingers. I was standing right next to it. John Paul II turned pale, but he did not utter a word. I saw Dr. Buzzonetti, the Pope’s personal physician, running in panic to the ambulance room, which is located in the middle of the Basilica behind the altar, to bring ice and take care of the hand. Then they took the Holy Father inside. He celebrated the Holy Mass with his hand wrapped, but he did not even stammer, although he had two nails completely crushed. It was amazing.
Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi “It happened in the Vatican”
Znak Publishing House. Kraków 2020
pages: 54 – 55
