Series: On the life of John Paul II
From 1969 - 1978 A.D.
Still athletic even as a Cardinal
Cardinal Wojtyla was one of the youngest cardinals of the Church. Just in his late forties, his student-friends wanted to give him a present upon his consecration as cardinal, but they were uncertain what to give him. When they spoke with him, Wojtyla suggested to them: "buy me a new sleeping bag; the one I still have is worn out and when I sleep in a tent or in the barracks, it fails to keep me warm". This short anecdote on John Paul proves that even while still a Cardinal, he had no intention of giving up his sports activities, which kept his body fit and strong. When he travelled to Rome to take part in the Synod of Bishops, he spends his free afternoons climbing the Terminillo for a ski descent, or practising a slalom.
The late 1960s unrest in Poland
The late 1960s saw a renewed period of struggle against the communists in Poland, as the epoch of youth culture and affluence in the West began to affect also the aspirations of the younger generations. During this time, it was really the workers who felt the pinch of lower wages and shortages of the Polish staple food - meat. Their children, who were in Polish schools, began to demonstrate on the streets when the government banned the anti-Soviet play "The Forefather's Eve". They were beaten, and Polish schools and universities were closed down. The increase in food prices really began the mass unrest. And this was felt all over the country, and more intensely in the Gdansk shipyards, where there were strikes and demonstrations, culminating in violence and the deaths of hundreds of workers.
A spokesman-pastor for his country
Since the Catholics in Poland have no access to the mass media for the defense and propagation of their faith, Cardinal Wojtyla intensifies his visits to the parishes. He spoke personally to the people, to groups, and to individuals. His words made a great impact, and they impressed an amazing number of people. In 1971 A.D., as a member of the Synod of Bishops, he would speak with some bitterness in the Synod meetings: "In Poland, the entire educational system, as well as the press, radio and television are permeated with atheism, which is considered a new religion of the state. Atheistic propaganda enjoys all privileges."
As unrest heightens in Poland, Wojtyla enters politics The year 1976 A.D. was a fatal year for Poland. Demonstrations against rising food prices resulted in violent clashes with workers in different parts of the country. It was during this time that Cardinal Wojtyla showed his consummate skill as a politician. When union leaders called a general strike, the Soviets intervened. To make peace, Wojtyla persuaded the workers to return to work. But at the same time, he dissuaded the Soviet regime from punishing the dissidents and strike organizers. Through this situation, he re-echoes very well the words of St. Maximillian Kolbe: "Only love is capable of building. Hatred destroys. Hatred cannot build. It can only destroy. It breaks up society; at most it may impress the weakling, but it cannot build."
Attending the Conclave that chose Pope John Paul I
After two years, there was sudden news of the death of Paul VI, who was pope since 1963 A.D. He died on August 6, 1978 A.D. The media spread the news, and the world was shocked by his death. At once, Cardinals from all over the world attended the Conclave to elect a new pope. Two of Poland's cardinals attended this Conclave: Stephen Wyszynski, the "silent but renowned Cardinal"; and Karol Wojtyla, just 58 years old. Three weeks later, after only one day's voting, the Conclave elected Albino Luciani on the fourth ballot. It was the shortest conclave of the century and almost the shortest in history. Albino Luciani was about sixty-six years old, had a winning smile, and was known to have spent much of his life in pastoral work. What was striking about Luciani's pontificate is that it lasted only three weeks. Albino Luciani, a.k.a. Pope John Paul I, died of a pulmonary embolism on the night of September 28, 1978 A.D.
Wojtyla makes a pilgrimage before the second Conclave
After the world was shocked again by the news of the death of Pope John Paul I, Cardinals Wyszynski and Wojtyla would fly again to Rome for another Conclave. As the Conclave was about to open, Wojtyla resolves to have a day off. He makes a pilgrimage to a shrine of the Blessed Mother, the Mentorella, which was run by a small community of Polish monks. Wojtyla climbed 12 kilometers up in the mountains, goes to the shrine, prays at length in front of the statue of Our Lady, then goes back to Rome for the Conclave.
The first non-Italian pope since 1522 A.D. October 15, 1978 A.D. The Conclave chimney continues to emit black smoke - a sign that a Pope has not yet been chosen. On the ninth ballot of the conclave, the votes revealed an impressive 103 out of 109 for Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. It was final. Karol Wojtyla was to be the first non-Italian Pope since 1522 A.D., and at fifty-eight years old, the youngest pope since Pope Pius IX was elected at the age of fifty-four in 1846 A.D. October 16, 1978 A.D. Karol Wojtyla, now Pope John Paul II, appeared at the balcony of St. Peter's Square. He was not yet known to the world. However, through his first contact with the people at St. Peter's Square, even though it lasted only a couple of minutes, an enduring relationship was established between the Pope and the crowd at St. Peter's Square. Pope John Paul II had won the peoples' hearts and obtained their deepest sympathy.
Edited from the following books
- The Pope Coming from the East, by Teresio Bosco, S.D.B.
- An Intimate Portrait: John Paul II, by Mark Bakermans
- The Pontiff in Winter, by John Cornwell
- Pope John Paul II: Champion of Faith, by TV Guide Magazine Group, Inc.
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