Karol Wojtyła during all millennials celebrations always was alongside Cardinal Wyszyński. He stood with him, albeit in the foreground: a careful, caring, giving the priority to the Primate. It was an eloquent sign of the great respect that the Metropolitan of Kraków had towards the Primate and a proof that there was no dispute between them, no division. The authorities wanted to sow discord between these two representatives of the Polish ecclesiastical hierarchy, to oppose them. Archbishop Wojtyła not only remained absolutely faithful to the Primate but made every effort to clearly and precisely show unity in following the same path. He visited him during vacations, openly supported him at difficult times, they were meeting often… Only the state authorities did not see this. Or maybe, convinced that it was quite the opposite, did not take note of it. They did not want to lose their long-established “hope” that one day the successor of Cardinal Wyszyński, considered the most dangerous enemy because of the relentless struggle against communism, will be Archbishop Wojtyła, whom they considered more submissive and open to dialogue, an enlightened supporter of progress. The election of Karol Wojtyła as the Archbishop of Krakow was the proof of such speculation. Influential representative of the Communist party Zenon Kliszko publicly credited himself for Wojtyła’s candidacy after two other lists of people proposed by Cardinal Wyszyński were rejected. On the two lists the “Wojtyła” name was not included. It can be assumed that the Primate did that on purpose as not to jeopardize the chances of a person considered by him to be the most appropriate for this position. This idea of opposing two of the most outstanding representatives of the Polish Church returned after the celebration of Millennium, in 1967, at the time when Karol Wojtyła was named as the Cardinal.
Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz – “Testimony”
TBA Publisher, Warszawa 2007
