Local priests recall memories of Blessed John Paul II

Intermountain Catholic

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Pilgrims hold handkerchiefs featuring Blessed Pope John Paul II before the start of a Mass of thanksgiving in celebration of his beatification in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 2. The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state. CNS photo/Paul Haring

SALT LAKE CITY — Blessed John Paul II, who was pope from Oct. 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005, had the second-longest documented pontificate: 26 years and 168 days. He was the first pope from Poland, and all three of the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Polish priests met him early in his priestly career.

"I met him in 1975, when he was a professor at the university," said Fr. Jan Bednarz, pastor of Saint Martin de Porres Parish in Taylorsville. Karol Józef Wojty³a, the future Pope John Paul II, was ordained a priest in 1946; he taught ethics at Jagiellonian University and the Catholic University of Lublin.

"He was my professor; I didn’t know at that time that he was going to be a pope," said Fr. Bednarz. "When I woke up one morning of 1978, to my surprise, he was giving a Mass as pope."

Now, six years after his death, "I pray to him every day," Fr. Bednarz said. "I have his image in my car and also we have a glass window with his image in our church."

John Paul II served as Sovereign of Vatican City from Oct. 16, 1978 until his death over 26 years later.

"When I was in Poland he wasn’t pope yet, he was the auxiliary Bishop of Krakow and I was a student in the Catholic University, where he was a professor," said Father Stanislaw Herba, now pastor of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City and Saint Lawrence Mission in Heber. "It’s hard to describe with words how it was to see him as pope back then in Poland, when there was no freedom."

Poland was under Communist reign until 1989; the election of the former Karol Wojtyla as pope strengthened Polish opposition to Communism.

"I remember his visit to Poland in 1979; the most impressive was the Mass of the Vigil of Pentecost. About 200,000 people gathered and I was close to him," said Fr. Herba. "It was very impressive for everybody, his speech and everything. His words were electrifying. The Spirit came to this earth; we felt like electricity was coming into all of us. It was a very important moment in Poland."

Last month, Fr. Herba used his computer to watch Polish television broadcast the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

John Paul II is considered one of the 20th century’s most influential leaders. He is credited with improving the Catholic Church’s relations with Judaism, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion.

Like Fr. Bednarz and Fr. Herba, Father Andrzej Skrzypiec, pastor of Saint Ambrose Parish in Salt Lake City, was a student of the future Pope John Paul II.

"I had some philosophy and ethics classes; I was only 20 and it was hard to understand," Fr. Skrzypiec said. "I remember on the exam I said to him, ‘I learned, but it’s really hard for me to understand.’ And he said, ‘Don’t worry; it’s hard. Usually it becomes more clear to you after you are 30.’ So he gave us a good grade."

Fr. Skrzypiec said the beatification of Pope John Paul II by Pope Benedict XVI made him happy. "I felt I was grateful to God for him," he said. "I strongly believe that Communism wouldn’t have gone down without his presence. I just kind of see the providence of God in my life and in my country in the way that he was guiding the history."