Cardinal Krajewski: 20 years ago, the world was motionless, kneeling and cried

By the father. Marek Weresa

April 2 marks two decades since the death of Pope John Paul II. After having served by his side twenty years ago, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal author, reflects on the man behind the figure of the head of the Catholic church.

A witness

He stresses that the Polish pope was a man who, before leaving to direct the liturgy, “first spoke with God, and when he came out, he represented God, that is why his words were so touching and who changed life.” Before the start of any celebration, in the sacristy, Pope John Paul II was physically absent – immersed in prayer – and “in this same absence, he met God”.

“I did not know when it was a holiness. For me, it was normal because for seven years, several times a week, I saw the Holy Father – exactly like that,” recalls Cardinal Krajewski.

We felt like a family

Cardinal was one of the people present at the time of the death of Pope John Paul II. He remembers the night of April 2NDentering April 3RD. After midnight, when he returned home, he noticed that “the world had arrived at the stop. The world knelt right there, on Saint-Pierre square, “he describes.

All the streets around the Vatican were filled with people and a perfect silence prevailed. No one was in stores or restaurants; Everything was standing in prayer. In a way, the intense tension associated with the departure of Pope John Paul II suddenly “raised” and was the moment of reflection. “And you could see him in the eyes of people. We all wondered why we were not like Pope John Paul II – why he was holy, and we were not, despite our being so close to him.”

The Almoner Papal points out that the Polish Pope’s pontificate was a time when, thanks to the media, everyone could follow “rubbing”. This is why, at that time, the whole world seemed to remain motionless – there was “a deep break unlike everything we had ever witnessed when a pope’s passage”.

Live the gospel

In an interview with the Vatican radio, Cardinal Krajewski remembers that while working with the Pope at the time, he observed that he “lived according to the four Gospels. His way of working, his conduct, his approach to solving problems in the world and in his circle was based solely on the four Gospels – without any comments”, explains Krajewski. He adds that this is important “because when you comment on the Gospels, you dilute them. The four gospels are very radical when lived. ” When a person begins to live humbly, completely giving himself to the service of the Lord God and the people, then he is exalted. This is why Pope John Paul II is holy.

When asked what the most important message should be for us today – twenty years later – Cardinal Krajewski explains that it is a question of living the fullness of the gospel. “Pope John Paul II lived according to the logic of the Gospel, and he solved the problems of the world using this same logic,” he said, adding that it is difficult, taking into account the way the Pope was attacked both in life and after death, however, as Jesus himself had predicted it, “if they persecuted me, they will also persecit you” (John 15:20). The cardinal underlines “this will happen if we continue to live according to the truth of God”.

A sign of unit

By thinking about the way the tradition of the masses celebrated at the tomb of Pope John Paul II began, Cardinal Krajewski tells the very first celebrated in the Grottos of the Vatican-near the tomb of Saint-Pierre. It took place on Thursday commemorating the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood.

During the service, the Testament of the Polish Pope was read, in which he called on Christians to offer mass and prayer. Since that day, the masses on Thursday have been celebrated in his grave-first in the crypt and, after his beatification, at the altar of Saint-Sébastien in the Saint-Pierre basilica.

Over the past twenty years, mass has been celebrated without interruption every Thursday, except for Thursday.

Each week, the area opposite the tomb of Pope John Paul II is flooded with a large group of poles living in Rome as well as those who make the pilgrimage in the eternal city, especially now during the year of the jubilee.

The masses are always filled and, recently, even more than 100 priests have joined. With the radio and Catholics of Vatican radio radio in Poland, the posts can unite spiritually with the celebrations. Cardinal Krajewski says that “it is a sign of unity to be together. John Paul II brings us together. “