– The faithful were seeing John Paul II when once a year he confessed at the St. Peter’s Basilica. Did he confess only that day? Did anyone come to the Apostolic Palace, for example, and the Pope confessed him/her?
– It happened so, but occasionally. Someone came, for example, a close friend from Krakow and asked the Pope for confession. Of course, he did.
– Did the secretaries also confessed to John Paul II?
– Well, no! We did not take time for the Holy Father. The householders took advantage from the presence of the Pope’s confessor.
– Has there been anything unexpected during meetings with the faithful?
– Of course, people reacted differently. First of all, they showed great respect. I remember someone said that when he goes to the Pope, before that he has to go to confession. He wanted to be clean, without any sins.
As I stood next to the Holy Father, I often saw how many people could not utter a word; from emotions, from being very touched. Once, my primary school friend came to the Vatican; serious professor, lecturer at the university. He came with his wife and daughter. He asked me if it would be possible to ask a very important question for him to the Holy Father. “Of course,” I replied. The next day he was at the holy Mass. After it ended, he approached the Holy Father with his family; he knelt in front of the Pope, and silence… He couldn’t utter a single word. In the afternoon, I asked: “Janusz, why didn’t you say anything? After all, you wanted to ask a question.” He replied that he was paralyzed and didn’t have the strength to speak.
Secretary of two Popes – conversation with Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki.
Wydawnictwo Literackie Publishing House
