"[narrator] The following dramatlzatlon ls based on published accounts of events ln the life of Pope John Paul ll." "[indistinct chatter]" "[John Paul] Holy Mother, I ask forgiveness for all the sins of the Catholic Church, and for my own sins." "Never again, offenses against any people." "Never again, acts of discrimination, oppression, contempt for the poor and defenseless," "for Jew and for Arab." "Holy Mother, hear my prayer." "Thank you." "Thank you." "[John Paul] Here I am, Holy Mother, speaking to you ln the place where the body of your crucified son was brought." "I thlnk of Hls death... [straining] ...and I thlnk of my own." "And I thlnk back, too, upon my life, and I see without doubt that God truly works ln a mysterious way." " [indistinct chatter] - [woman coughing]" " [indistinct chatter] - [woman coughing]" " [boy 1] Ow!" "That hurt." " [boy 2] Sorry, Lolek." " When do you go back to college?" " Tomorrow." "Thank God. I'll have my room back." "[coughing]" "What's wrong with Mother?" "[coughing continues] I don't know." "You're supposed to be a doctor." "I'm just training." "Father says she'll get over it." "[Mother coughing]" " [whistle blows] - [children shouting]" "Yes!" "[whistle blows]" "[boy] You can do it!" "[applause, cheering]" "Not bad for a gentile." "It was the hand of God." "[coughing]" "Lolek." "Take your mother a glass of water." "Mother, were you praying?" "Yes, Lolek." "May I pray with you?" "Of course." "[whispering]" "Lolek." "Yes, Mother?" "Come here." "I love you, Lolek. I love you." "I love you." "[man] X equals ten minus five." "So X equals what?" "Wojtyła, go to the headmaster's study." "[children whispering]" "Wojtyła." "Karol." "There is no proper way to say this." "I have very sad news for you." "Your..." "Your sweet mother is dead." "Thank you for being with us." "This is a very difficult moment for me and my family." "[indistinct whispering]" "[Father continues, indistinct]" "It was God's will." "Mundek, are you awake?" "Yes." "I'm so happy that Mama is in heaven." "So am I." "[sobbing]" "There, little brother." "Cry." "Cry your eyes out." "It's all right." "I miss her too." " [indistinct chatter] - [church bells ringing]" "Father?" "Yes, Lolek?" "Yes, my son?" "Where are we going?" "Somewhere special." "Jasna Góra." " Why?" " To visit the Black Madonna." "The most famous shrine in the whole of Poland." "We're going to pray for your mother's soul." "[children shouting]" "[whispering]" "Don't be afraid, Lolek." "Kneel down beside me and pray." "[John Paul] I'm sure you remember that I prayed that day for the soul of my mother but also for the life of my poor father." "[whispering]" "[laughing] [laughing]" " [Father] What's that, Lolek?" " A letter from Mundek." "He says he's learned to imitate the voice of the hospital director..." "[Father laughs] ...and he keeps ordering the nurses to do ridiculous things." "He gets that gift from me like you do." "What else does he say?" "[Lolek] He says..." "He says there is an epidemic of scarlet fever in the town." "So the hospital is always full, and sometimes he and the other doctors have to work around the clock to care for all the patients." "And he says it's very sad because some of the children die." "Mundek won't catch the fever, will he?" "[teacher speaking German, children repeating]" " Watch this, Lolek." " [teacher speaking German] [children repeating in German]" " Sorry, miss." "Just a minute." " [children laughing] [teacher speaking German]" "[speaking German continues]" "Can I help you?" "I am looking for the home of Mr. Wojtyła." "He's my father." "What can I do for you, sister?" "Nobody else could come." "None of the other doctors or nurses." "The whole hospital is under quarantine." "But I heard how hard they fought to save him." "There was nothing more they could have done." "Edmund?" "Are you talking about my son, Edmund?" "[nun] Yes." "He left this life two days ago." "I'm so sorry." "Here are his possessions." "Thank you, sister." "[woman] How to be sure that true love can be found." " There is but one love." " But many counterfeits." " There is but one love." " But many counterfeits." "Why scorn a light with darkness all around?" "Love is so often false." "Why believe any?" "Some souls are born, believe me, to be mated, even if sometimes they are separated." "If not in this world, surely in some other, they'll find, approach and join with one another, as do the perfumes of two flowers, ascending, conjointly mingle, each with the other blending." "[clapping] That's wonderful, Ginka, Karol." "Thank you." "That was the best scene of the day." "I wish this was real." "That's all I need." "[man] Excellent work as always." "[indistinct chatter]" "[Lolek] I'm sorry I said what I said." " [Ginka] Are you?" " Not really." "I thought you were going to become a priest." "I was thinking about it." "I'm not sure." "I don't know if it's the right thing." "Lolek, I have to tell you I'm leaving Kraków." " No, you can't." " l have to." "I've got permission to go to Palestine." " You can'tjust leave." " l'm Jewish." "Many of us aren't anti-Semitic." " My father isn't. I'm not." " That's not the point." "You are a good person." "So is your father, but you can't change things." "The university is under pressure to exclude Jews." "They've rejected my application." "A girlfriend of mine was arrested because her boyfriend was a communist." "All over Poland, Lolek, the Jews are fleeing." "I don't want to leave." "Believe me." " The thing is..." " Yes?" "I was hoping..." " l was hoping..." " Dear, sweet Lolek." "I like you so much, and you're such a good actor." "But I could never be your girlfriend." "You'll forget me." "Here, take this." "[man on radio] Wlthln six months of declaring that he wanted [man on radio] Wlthln six months of declaring that he wanted no more territory anywhere, he violated the Munlch Agreement, marched ln and took hold of the Czech state." "Though he had specifically promised," ""l have no further interest ln the Czechoslovaklan state." "That ls guaranteed." "We want no Czechs, "" "Germany swept Czechoslovakla." "We're next." "Plato asks us to imagine that what we perceive to be a reality is, in fact, only an illusion, a play of shadows on the wall of the cave." "[engine rumbling]" "We cannot trust our senses because they can so easily be deceived." " [man 1] What do you see?" " [man 2] What is it?" " [woman] How many?" " [man 1] What do you see?" "Tell us." "[indistinct chatter]" ""This is a message to all Poles from the German High Command." "We ask you not to resist the armies and air force of the Third Reich." "This is a warning." "We say again, do not resist."" "Father." "[man on radio] ...attack Poland." "Information which has reached Hls Majesty's government ln the Unlted Klngdom and the French government indicate that attacks upon Pollsh towns are now proceeding." "In these circumstances, lt appears that the governments of the Unlted Klngdom and France decry the action of the German government." "They have created conditions of an oppressive nature against Poland and threatening the independence of Poland, which calls for the Allled governments to come to our assistance." "[speaking German]" "[soldiers barking march commands]" "[speaking German]" "is he there?" "[man speaking German over radio]" "Not too much this time, Lolek." "Everything is arranged." "It's at my place." " Sunday at 4:00." " Shh." " But you are going to be there." " Yes." "Now don't talk anymore." "Some of those would be very useful for the Resistance." "They wouldn't miss a few boxes." "Are you crazy?" "Are you telling me you don't care?" "No." "Then you are afraid." "No." "But you won't fight." "You're one of those who just accepts what's happening to our country." "No, it's not that." "You're a coward." "[boy] Over here!" "Over here!" "[children laughing]" "[boy] Soldiers are coming!" "It's all right." "They've gone." " What news?" " None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest." "There's doomsday near." "But your news is not true." "Let me question more in particular." "What have you deserved at the hands of fortune that she sends you to prison later?" "Prison, my lord?" " Denmark's a prison." " Then is the world one." "[shouting in German] [pounding]" "[John Paul] I kept asking you, "Why me?"" "Why should I be spared?" "Why not Krystoff?" "Why?" "I knew then what I had to do." "[man speaking Latin]" "is it true you want to become a priest?" "Yes, Your Excellency." "You understand the dangers?" "Already, almost half our priests have been taken from us, and our churches are all closed." "Examine your conscience." "You may suffer persecution, or even worse." "I understand, but I still want to go ahead." "I feel this is a call from God." "I don't believe in violence. I... I don't know how else to fight." "Good." "Then come and join us." "We are discussing St. Matthew's Gospel." "[speaking Latin]" ""l am a voice crying in the wilderness." "Prepare ye the way of the Lord."" "[John Paul] One day, as we had prayed, the war ended... [cheering] ...and I completed my studies ln a time of peace." "And now, Father, you will go to Rome." "You will study and learn, you will see with your own eyes the Holy City and come back to us a richer and a wiser man." "[Lolek] You know, Stanislaw, I've been here two months, but I still can't find the image of Rome that I brought with me." " What did you imagine?" " l'm not sure." "I suppose I could wake up in the morning, go for a walk and discover Rome, but you can't." "There are too many Romes, and everything is in fragments, like..." "Like those Roman remains over there." "They're Rome, of course, but everything else is too." "You know what?" "That's your problem, Lolek, you're too intellectual." "According to the Dominicans, it's impossible to be too intellectual." "It's through our reasoning we understand everything, even the topmost heavens." "You might be right." "You're cleverer than I am, anyway." "I only meant that from time to time, you might like to stop thinking so much and just enjoy." "I'm very sorry, Stanislaw, but you're right." " Thank you." " No problem." "It's my pleasure." "Anytime." "You remember that day we saw the pope?" "[Lolek] Carried in on his throne like some medieval monarch?" "I thought you liked the rituals." "I do, when they don't seem fake." "When we watched Pope Pius brought in like someone in the circus, it occurred to me that whatever dreams you have as a priest, when you become a pope, you become a prisoner of the Vatican." "You can't leave." "You can't meet the people." "You can't preach." " You're just a captive of St. Peter's." " [Stanislaw laughs]" "So, Mr. Wojtyła, underneath it all, you're really a revolutionary." "No, I'm not." "Don't misunderstand." "I never thought of you as a political before." "You always told me you were drawn to the mystical side of our faith." "[Lolek] I am." "That's why I am going to ask permission to enter a monastery." "I absolutely forbid it." "There's too much up there." "I shall most certainly not allow you to enter a monastery." "I know what's in there, Lolek, and you want to be out in the world." "I read your dissertation." "Your tutor said your analysis of St. John of the Cross was too intellectual." "He claimed you spent too much time making your own arguments." "That's unfair..." "As a matter of fact, I thought it was brilliant." "In my opinion, you are destined for great things." "So as a preparation for yourjourney, I am sending you as a priest to the parish of Niegowić." "Perhaps not at first, but I believe in the end, you will understand why." "[indistinct chatter]" "[speaking Latin]" "Cardinal Wyszynski will see you now." ""First doctorate at 28, parish experience at St. Florian's..."" "Ohh..." ""Second doctorate at 34, published author, chair of ethics at Lublin."" "You are a remarkable man, Father Wojtyła." "I would not say so myself, Your Eminence." "[laughs] No false modesty." "Ability like yours is rare, and I believe you know this." "I also understand you are a poet and a playwright." "Yes, Your Eminence." "Personally, I've never had time for such pursuits, but I suppose they hold appeal for some." "Yes." "Enough small talk, Father Wojtyła." "Let us get to the point." "At the recommendation of Archbishop Baziak, your name was submitted to His Holiness, who has named you suffragan bishop of Kraków." "Bishop?" "But..." "But I'm far too young." "That will be remedied with time." "But if you allow me a personal comment... I don't know you." "I've heard that you are not only academic, but you also favor a passive attitude to the authorities." "It's well known I don't." "I can't see how one can be passive in the face of those who want to destroy our churches and stamp out our faith." "As a bishop, Father Wojtyła, you will discover that it is less easy to behave like an ostrich." "In here, comrade." "[phone ringing]" "Your request to build a church in Nowa Huta has been denied." "On what grounds?" "Secretary Gomułka has forbidden the construction of any new churches without exception." "But Nowa Huta is a new town." "It has no church." "It's a socialist workers' community." "There is no need for a church." "Did you truly suppose that your request would be granted, comrade?" "The party is dedicated to putting an end to medieval superstitions, which were intended to keep peasants in their place." "You should read Comrade Lenin." "We are building a new world, a socialist world, and in that world, there is no place for your God." "[phone ringing]" "God is dead, comrade." "[man] The place we had in mind is here, Your Grace." "[Lolek] Don't call me that." " [Lolek] I'll never get used to it." " [man] Sorry, Father." "There used to be a large cross here, which the local people put up." "Two weeks ago, the soldiers came and took it down." "I will ask the authorities for permission to celebrate midnight Mass on this site." "If people feel strongly enough, they will come." "[cheering]" "Your Grace, you wanted to pray before Mass." "Yes." " [woman] Bishop Wojtyła, please." " [man 1] Let us pray." "[man 2] Bishop Wojtyła, he comes." "What is this?" "[man 3] Talk to them, please!" "[shouting continues]" " What do you want?" " l am Bishop Wojtyła." "I have permission to celebrate Mass here." "Show me." "You and these people can go through." "No one else." "Come." "[people shouting] [man] No passing through here!" "Let us pray." "Let us pray to the Blessed Virgin." "Let us ask that there is no confrontation, no violence, Pole against Pole." "[shouting]" "Let us pray." "Let them through!" "Let them through!" " [gunfire]" " Don't fire!" "Don't fire!" "It's Christmas." "We have opened another cave in Bethlehem." "[applause]" "[Lolek] Why are we here?" "That is always a good question." "The first question." "We are here because Pope John XXlll, of beloved memory, received the sudden inspiration of the Holy Spirit." "It called upon him to be a new Pentecost, to regenerate and reunite the Church, east and west." "We are all deeply conscious that new problems have arisen from the new situation in the world..." "Who is this speaking?" "Bishop Wojtyła of Poland, Holiness." "Oh." "...new problems or that its answers are irrelevant." "The question is, how does the Church address and live in the modern world while never sacrificing or amending the truth of its message, which is not of man, but of God?" "What's that?" "A stone from St. Peter's, blessed by His Holiness." "It will be the foundation stone of our new church." "We'll never get permission to build a church." "The communists won't allow it." "You think the communists will be here forever?" "Yes, I do, Your Grace." "I've come to the conclusion that communism is irreversible." "So you think that their blind dogma that degrades and makes human life sad is irresistible?" "I plead with you, never doubt, never tire and never become discouraged." "Do not sever those very roots from which you spring." "His Holiness has asked again to visit Poland, but they refused again." "As a punishment, I suppose, the Holy Father has made me a cardinal." "A cardinal?" "At your age?" "So now what are you going to call me?" "I am sorry you have to see me like this, Wojtyła, but I can't help it." "My arthritis is bad." "Didn't Erasmus call arthritis the illness of those destined for longevity?" "You know, that's why I always enjoy talking to you so much." "I hardly know anyone else who can talk about religious issues with reference to the Marxist theory of alienation," "French structuralism and the works of Shakespeare." "You challenge me." "I like to be challenged." "It makes me feel alive and well again." "Nowadays, I... I am often discouraged." "I confess that to you in private." "As I approach death, I am more and more drawn to the mystics." "I listened carefully when you spoke in your last speech about God's infinite majesty and the need to experience it in absolute quiet, like Trappists in their monastery, like Bedouins in the desert, even like Buddhists." "You quoted from St. John of the Cross." "I love those lines." "Do you remember?" "An inspiration to me, always." "Then we walk with him together." "Remember me in your prayers, Wojtyła." "[man on TV] People around the world were shocked by the death of John Paul I." "The former Cardlnal Alblno Luclanl of Venlce died last night ln his sleep from as yet undetermined causes." "Barely a month after the death of Pope Paul Vl and the election of John Paul I, the College of Cardlnals will hastily re-convene to choose a new pontiff." "The question on everyone's mind ls who will be the next pope?" "[indistinct chatter]" "Our Italian friends are already arguing." "Only about which one of them should be pope." "Siri." "Siri." "Benelli." "Benelli." "Siri." "Benelli." "Wojtyła." "Siri." "Siri." "Benelli." "Benelli." "Siri." "Siri." "Yes?" "We must talk." "We have had three rounds." "The pope is hopelessly deadlocked between the Italians." "I just spoke to Cardinal König of Germany, and he's asked me to speak with you." "He's prepared to back you but needs your permission." " But that's impossible." " lt's not impossible." "You already have a small but consistent core vote." "König has promised a European bloc vote." "On top of that, Cardinal Krol can deliver North America." "That means we only need a handful of votes from the other region." "I need to know that you'll accept." "Excellence... I beg you, do not ask this of me." "I'm not asking you." "If you are elected, it won't be my decision." "It will be God's, but don't refuse." "Don't turn away." "If you are elected, you must accept for Poland." "[speaking in Latin]" "Do you accept?" "With obedience in faith to Christ, my Lord and with trust in the Mother of Christ and of the Church in spite of the great difficulties I accept." "[John Paul] Pralsed be Jesus Christ." "Dear brothers and sisters, we are all still grieved after the death of our most beloved John Paul and now the eminent cardinals have called a new bishop of Rome." "They have called him from a faraway land." "Far, but always near through the communion of faith, and ln the Chrlstlan tradition." "And so I present myself to you all, to confess our common faith, our hope, our trust ln the Mother of Christ and ln the Church." "I announce to you with greatjoy," " we have a pope." " [cheering] [speaks Latin]" "Cardinal Wojtyła." "[speaks Latin]" "[cheering]" "[John Paul] And also to start anew on the road of history and the Church, with the help of God and with the help of men." "[bells ringing]" "is this all you possess, Holy Father?" "Why would I need more?" "[John Paul] I traveled to live, and I lived to travel." "Holy Mother, believe me, I felt compelled to take the word of God to the people of the world." "I did lt for love of the other." "I wanted to say to them," " "Be not afraid." " [applause]" "Open wide the doors for Chrlst."" "No, stand straight, Cardinal Wyszynski, as you always have." "I owe you a great deal." "Without you and your faith, there would be no Polish pope." "Holiness." "Your Holiness." "Your Holiness." "Welcome, Holiness." "May I introduce the minister of defense, General Jaruzelski?" "[indistinct chatter]" "[woman] We love you, Father." "[applause, cheering]" "It was so hot in Rome." "I thought I'd come to Poland where it was bound to be cooler." " You see, even a pope can be wrong." " [laughter]" "Mary leads the way to the kingdom of Christ victorious." "I am a man of faith and I learned to be one here." " [murmuring] - [man] I will pray for you." " [woman 1] We love you." " [woman 2] Come closer to us." "[John Paul] I shall always be close to you." "Always." "I have discovered in Rome it is not easy to leave Warsaw or Kraków behind." "My heart has not ceased to be united with you." "[cheering]" "[John Paul] Holy Mother, forgive me." "In my life, I have sought for humility, all too rarely found lt." "Forglve my pride." "For through pride, I have made mistakes." "I confess this to you." "Thank you very much." "Monsignor Dziwisz." "Archbishop Romero, it's a pleasure to see you again." "is it possible I will have my audience with His Holiness today?" "It's possible, Your Excellency, but unfortunately, not very probable." "The Holy Father has many demands on his time." "Yes, I understand, but it's been weeks since he called me to Rome." "Now, why would he call me here and then not see me?" " l'll see what I can do." " Thank you, Monsignor." "Thank you." "My country, El Salvador, the government is killing priests as well as peasants." "And the situation gets worse every day." "My dearest friend was murdered on his way to say Mass." "My vocation seems to be picking up corpses." "Archbishop Romero, I understand your suffering, and I share it with you." "But your teaching of so-called liberation theology is, frankly, a mistake." "It's not theology at all. lt's Marxism." "With all due respect, Holy Father, if you think that, then you are the one who is mistaken." "I have received so many complaints from the other bishops in El Salvador against your preaching." " They demand that you stop." " Holiness, I only teach the Gospels." "Did not Christ speak for the poor and the oppressed?" " That's all I'm doing." " No." "You are splitting the Church." "I won't allow it." "I love you." "No one more than me welcomed your election as pope." "You are from Eastern Europe." "You know tyranny and oppression at first hand." "You are a liberator of the spirit and of the person." "But it seems to me you do not understand Latin America." "It's not the same as Poland." "We are fighting the same fight, but in different ways, in a different language, but always with the example of Christ before us." "Those of us who speak for the poor and dispossessed are all willing to die as martyrs." "Listen to me." "You must straighten yourself out with the Church." "You mean the oppressor." "You can't preach communism and expect me to embrace you!" "Holy Father, let me explain..." "You must learn to live in unity with your bishops." "There has to be discipline in the Church, just like in a family." "You must accept authority, archbishop." "Holiness, I will remember all you told me today." "May God bless you and help you carry your burden." "And you." "He's wrong." "[speaking Spanish]" "God said, "Don't kill."" "Men, any group of men, cannot change and trample this most sacred law of God." "Those who have on their consciences the weight of so many victims must understand you must repent." "Repent." "One day, you will come face to face with the judgment of God." "This is my body which is given up for you." "Do this in memory of me." "This cup of my blood which is poured out for you, do this in memory of me." " [grunting] - [screaming]" "For this terrible sin, my brother, forgive me." "[applause, cheering]" "[screaming] [man] Go, go!" "[beeplng]" "So do you know what's happening?" "What I know is not good." "He was hit twice, once in the stomach." "He's lost a lot of blood, but the surgeon is the best in Italy." "Pray for him." "Pray for them both." "[sighs]" "He mightjust survive." "[man on TV] There ls no further news on the pope's condition, but rumors surround the motive of the unknown assailant captured by the crowds ln St. Peter's Square as he tried to escape." "Some commentators on Italian TV are speculating that whoever he ls, the gunman was probably working under orders from the Sovlet authorities." "The assailant has been identified as Turklsh native All Agca." "What we know for sure ls that a note was discovered ln Agca's rented room, saying simply, "l have killed the pope."" "Professor Crucitti." "How is he?" "Come and see." "You see?" "The Holy Father is making a remarkable recovery." "Thanks to you, Francesco." "I would like to take the credit, of course, but really, it's because the bullet fractionally missed every vital organ." "Someone's divine hand, a maternal hand guided the bullet." "You smoke too much, Francesco." "It's not healthy." "I know." "And if I might say so, you've been eating too much." "You need to go on a diet." "Now I leave you in peace." "I brought all the papers you asked for, but I beg you not to work, Holiness." "I need to work." "Don't worry about me." "I have thought a great deal about this man who shot me." "Ali Agca." "is he acting alone, or are there others, perhaps other countries?" "Surely, we will find out." "It doesn't matter." "The material world stops at material things." "You see how I lie here." "I'm only a man joined to Christ by my suffering and I understand as never before the meaning of Job's suffering," "for love is the answer to the question of suffering." "If Agca says or does anything strange, don't worry." "In the room, there will be two guards, as well as the camera crew and myself." "[Agca] I can't believe you came to see me." "Do you still want to kill me?" "No." " Who are you?" " l don't know." "That's the truth." "Sometimes..." "Sometimes, I think I am the risen Christ." "The risen Christ?" "Yes. I hear voices." "They tell me." "Do you think the risen Christ would have tried to kill His own messenger and servant?" "No." "[John Paul] I wanted to see you." "I wanted to tell you that I forgive you." "I forgive you with all my heart, and I pray for you." " But I'm afraid." " Tell me." "You can tell me, my son." "What are you afraid of?" "Because of what I have done, I shall be tormented afterwards." "I mean, in the afterlife." "Of that, I am really scared." "Not of this life, but the next." "I will be seriously punished." "I know it's true." "I can't go to paradise." "Please listen to me." "I don't want you to be frightened." "God loves you." "If you are loved, what is there to be frightened of?" "Thank you." "The Soviets have massed troops and tanks on the Polish border." "I want you to send a message to Brezhnev." "Tell him that if the Soviets invade Poland, I will relinquish the throne of St. Peter and return to stand in the barricades along with my fellow Poles." "Yes, Holy Father." "[man on TV] The waiting ls over." "Twelve December at 1 1.:57, 3.4 million telephones go dead ln Warsaw, roadblocks appear ln every town, columns of tanks enter the capital of Warsaw." "Pollsh president Jaruzelskl has tightened the grip of martial law, crushing Solldarlty and imprisoning its leaders, including Lech Wałęsa." "The new Sovlet leader Mlkhall Gorbachev stated the clampdown ls administrative." "Our country's nothing but a vast concentration camp." "I asked you here today so that I could explain to you why I did what I did." "It was not an easy decision, believe me." "But if I had not done what I did, then it would not be Polish tanks, but Soviet and East German tanks guarding the streets today." "Yes, but they are still tanks." "I don't expect any credit for my actions." "But the fact is..." "I saved Poland." "I saved my country." "Why should I be ashamed?" "I stood up to the Soviets." "I told them, this is an internal matter." "Don't interfere." "Nevertheless, you have done what they wanted." "People make fun of me, I know." "They say I am a stooge to Moscow." "They say I hide behind these glasses because I'm ashamed of betraying my country." "But it's not true." "I wear these glasses because my eyes are damaged." "When the Russians invaded eastern Poland, I was sent to a gulag in Siberia." "I was just 1 7." "I was forced to work all day in the blinding reflections of the Siberian snow, and at night, I would read the Russian classics by a feeble light, sometimes, just a candle." "These things together ruined my eyes." "I am a patriot." "When you were elected pope, I was secretly pleased." "But you understand, it's difficult for me." "Yes. I understand." "I'm not sure you do." "As a fellow patriot, let me embrace you." "I am grateful that in these difficult days, you continue to urge restraint and moderation." "I cannot establish contacts with Solidarity." "But the dialogue with the Church will continue and grow stronger." "Good." "But I am no longer sure that you can distinguish between Solidarity and the Church." "All of these people love God, and their demands are the same." "And I warn you, general, that this movement cannot be stopped, nor will I raise a finger to stop it." "[John Paul] Thank you, Holy Mother, for what happened to Poland and the world." "And for the chance lt gave to millions of people to taste freedom." "[Dziwisz] Holy Father, why don't you rest?" "My friend we shall have all eternity to rest." "I say this to you because Poland is my mother." "This is my motherland." "You are my brothers and sisters." "How quickly you have embraced the material world, the virus of capitalism, how quickly turned away from God." "I know it is fashionable now to refuse to admit that any good came out of communism." "But at least under communism there was a concern for the poor and an idea of society, notjust the individual." "Please, I beg you, do not embrace a culture of death." "It humiliates the individual, shows no respect to the weakest and frailest and undermines the sacred dignity of the family, the heart of society and the Church." "This, I beg you." "[John Paul] Holy Mother, give me strength to endure." ""To save man does not mean only not to kill him, not to mutilate him, not to torture him." "It also means giving the hunger and thirst forjustice which is inside him the possibility of being satisfied."" "I... [screaming]" "Call the doctors!" "How are you feeling, Holy Father?" "From the neck up, very good." "I want you to rest." "After you're released, I want you to go to Castel Gandolfo to recuperate." "After that, we'll reduce your appointments and cancel some trips." "At the moment, your program is suicidal." "You won't last." "This is what your body is telling you." "You want to protect me from harm, from suffering." "I understand." "But I have always been conscious of the fundamental importance of suffering to the life of the Church." "Listen to me." "When I was young, the old and the sick used to intimidate me." "I didn't like to be around them." "It took a long time for me to grasp the profound meaning of the mystery of human suffering." "In the weakness of the sick, I started to see the possibility of strength, the strength of mercy." "I understand you, Holy Father." "But please rest." "Sleep." "The sick provoke mercy." "I'm not ashamed of my suffering." "People these days are afraid." "They shut old people away." "They won't face their own mortality." "I want them to face it but without fear and with humility." "But, Holy Father, you are a symbol to people." "I am also a human being, Monsignor." "I am also a human being, just as Christ was." "Do you think He could have stepped down from the cross?" "[John Paul] I want to say to you, never, ever give up on hope." "You're young." "If the young aren't filled with hope, then nobody is." "It's true that terrible things happen." "Terrible things have always happened." "But that's never a reason to be pessimistic or give up hope." "I plead with you, young people, never doubt, never tire and never become discouraged." "Fulfill everything that is inside you as full human beings." "That is why you were born." "[Dziwisz] But, Holy Father, I have to tell you, there are fresh allegations of child abuse against some American priests." "It's a big scandal." "Some are saying the bishops didn't do anything." "They tried to cover it up." "Like a conspiracy." "Yes, like a conspiracy." "People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood for those who would harm the young." "You don't understand." "The American Church is in turmoil." "They accuse you too." "I accept their criticism." "I accept that some people in the Church have committed many sins." "I have sincerely asked for forgiveness." "In this case, forgiveness may cost millions of dollars." "Why not absolve the Church in general of any responsibility?" "Many schools and churches could be closed." "I ask you, if the man you trusted, the man you called Father... lf that man should ever take advantage of you out of his selfishness and lust, how should you absolve him?" "But, Holy Father..." "You have told me that every sin can be forgiven." "Yes." "But by God, not by me." "[crowd clamoring]" "[cheering]" "[gasping]" "[gasping]" "[woman] Your Holiness." "Come." "Bless you, Father." "You know what I have taught you." "At the evening of our lives, we shall be judged on love." "Don't be afraid." "[Dziwisz] "ln the name of the Son... [sobbing] ...who redeemed you in the name of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies you go forth, o Christian soul." "Let the angels greet you and take you to your true and eternal home." "May your place this day be with your Savior in paradise."" "Amen." "[John Paul] I plead with you, never doubt, never tire and never become discouraged." "Do not sever those very roots from which you spring."