During the pilgrimage Poland in 1999; then, on June 15, in Kraków, on Błonie, John Paul II was to celebrate a holy Mass. More than one million people gathered. Before the Mass, a message was read – the Pope is sick. There was silence.
At that time, the Holy Father lay much weakened in the apartment of the Curia at Franciszkańska Street. The day before, in the evening, we came from Sosnowiec. The Pope, entering the Curia, said to me: “I no longer have strength.” He could neither walk nor speak. After entering the apartment he got strong chills. Doctors said it was exhaustion of the body. He was very tired. In the morning, the condition did not change. It was decided that Cardinal Sodano would celebrate the holy Mass in Błonie.
The Pope’s participation in the planned evening Vespers in Gliwice was cancelled. There, Archbishop Józef Kowalczyk read the homily on behalf of John Paul II. This disturbing weakening of the body lasted until the sixth or seventh o’clock in the morning of the next day.
The next day, June 16, a Mass was planned in Stary Sacz. During the Mass, the canonization of Blessed Kinga was to take place. In the morning, the phones were ringing – from the police, journalists. Everyone asked if the Pope would go to Stary Sacz. We saw that he is still very weak. It was decided that in Stary Sacz Cardinal Macharski will celebrate the holy Mass, and the very formula of canonization will be uttered by the Holy Father in the chapel in the residence at Franciszkańska Street. Everything was supposed to be broadcast on TV from two places.
After these decisions, the Holy Father ate breakfast and said: “We are going!” It was shocking to us. Especially since after the Mass in Stary Sacz a trip to Wadowice was planned. And, there we know what happened – the Holy Father was joyful, smiling, joking. There was no trace after extreme exhaustion. And, this meeting is still remembered today by the entire Poland.
Secretary of two Popes – conversation with Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki.
Wydawnictwo Literackie Publishing House
