The case that strongly touched John Paul II was the events of March 20, 2003. Coalition forces from the United States and Britain attacked Iraq. The Holy Father did his best not to have this war. He warned that war does not solve anything, but causes suffering that will last for years. He referred to his own experiences. In his reflections before the Angelus prayer recalled the tragic events of the Second World War, which he witnessed. I saw that he was using every opportunity to prevent this war. He sent his special representative to Iraq. He called U.S. President George Bush several times. The talks were organized by the Secretariat of State. At the scheduled time, the call was transferred to our office of secretaries. There were two telephones in the Holy Father’s office, but they were only with an internal direct connection to the Secretary of State and a substitute. When the date of the conversation with President Bush was set, the Holy Father was coming to our room and personally answering the phone.
– Was the Pope frequently using the phone?
– Just before the outbreak of war in 2003 very often. And, at another time occasionally. At Christmas, friends from the so-called Środowisko (“Environment”) from Krakow called the Holy Father. They wanted to make wishes. We set the hour, we called back, and the Holy Father talked to them, sang.
– Sang?
– Yes, in Poland they sang a Christmas carol and the Pope often sang a verse. These were very nice family conversations. They added strength to the Pope. Also, the Holy Father always spoke with the President of Italy on New Year’s Eve. The President in the evening, via television, expressed his wishes to all residents of the country and to the Holy Father. When he finished, Fr. Stanisław dialed the number and the Pope personally thanked the president. He also offered his wishes to him and his entire family.
Secretary of two Holy Fathers – conversation with Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki.
Wydawnictwo Literackie Publishing House
