Pope John Paul II

Emilia Wojty?a:
My little Lolek, you are a silly goose. The world is complicated, Lolek. God is simple.

Pope John Paul II:
Holy Mary... My mother...

Emilia Wojty?a:
I'll show you a simple way. One, two, three. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Now you.

Pope John Paul II:
One... Two... Three...

Karol Wojty?a Snr:
Right now, there is no time for Hamlet. You must get a work permit.

Karol Wojty?a:
A permit? Work at what, father?

Karol Wojty?a Snr:
If you don't have one. You risk being deported to Germany. Forced labor. Is that what you want?

Karol Wojty?a:
What I want is to stop them.

Karol Wojty?a Snr:
No, Karol. What you must want, is to stay alive, and to stay polish.

Karol Wojty?a:
Forgive me, father. You're right. It is too dangerous. But in this moment, the Theatre is all I have. Besides your potatoes of course.

[Wojty?a Snr kisses his son on his forehead]

Karol Wojty?a:
[giving a confession, tearfully] Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Tell me, my son.

Karol Wojty?a:
I - I no longer know... what to do, how to feel, how to respond. I feel... I have such anger in my heart, Father...

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Anger is not a sin, to feel outrage in the face of evil is only normal. The more important question is, how do you express it?

Karol Wojty?a:
I've begun to wonder, if I should take up arms.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
You're the alter boy, from Wadowice.

Karol Wojty?a:
Yes. Karol Wojty?a, excellency.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
I remember. You wanted to be an actor.

Karol Wojty?a:
Yes, excellency.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
And now?

Karol Wojty?a:
And now a great evil has occupied our country. They treat us like animals, they murder Jews, they... [noticing a German soldier. Quietly] They shoot children.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Do not fear the men who can kill your body. Fear him who can destroy your soul. This is what our Lord tells us.

Karol Wojty?a:
[short pause] I don't know what to think anymore.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Wisdom is a grace we must seek from God.

Karol Wojty?a:
How can we fight them?

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Violence only leads to more violence. If you must choose a weapon, choose the one they fear the most.

Karol Wojty?a:
Our faith?

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Yes, our faith, and our intelligence. [points to Karol's forehead] Our fine minds.

Karol Wojty?a:
[smiles] Yes. Yes. Thank you, excellency. [kisses Sapieha's hand and walks away]

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Wojty?a? [Karol turns] Caution.

Anna:
What do you know about cutting stones?

Karol Wojty?a:
It's what they permit me to do.

Anna:
I never get to see you.

Karol Wojty?a:
I'm sorry, Anna. It's just I've been having so many thoughts about how to resist.

Anna:
By breaking rocks?

Karol Wojty?a:
No, of course not.

Karol Wojty?a:
... Our skill, our imagination. Use all of it as a weapon.

Anna:
What do you mean?

Karol Wojty?a:
Well, if what they are trying to do is eliminate any trace of Poland, our objective must be to keep Poland alive. And so, we should put on a kind of... kind of subversive Theatre. You know? Put on plays that reflect who we are. [pause] You disagree?

Anna:
Karol. What will happen to us? You and me? [pause] Tell me, please. I need to know what you're thinking.

Karol Wojty?a:
Anna, what I think is... What I think is, you will have a beautiful future. Find a handsome, talented husband and have five or six wo--

Anna:
What if I've already found him? [pause] Karol, I must know what you feel.

Karol Wojty?a:
Anna. The times we are living in.... My heart is already consumed.

[pause. Anna walks away]

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Christianity itself is at stake. Therefore it is essential that you never mention you're training to anyone. You must go about your daily lives as if nothing has changed. At the same time, you must take advantage of every available moment to study and to pray. Being a priest means serving God. But it also means serving Poland. This is the highest form of resistance, to give hope to those who have none. And with God's good grace. We shall succeed.

Roman:
[being taken away by the Germans] I'm proud to be Polish! I'm just as proud to be Jewish!

Karol Wojty?a:
Roman!

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Karol, to be a good leader you must first learn to follow.

[Karol has just witnessed Marek killing two German soldiers with a switchblade. He runs over to one of the soldiers who is wounded, slowly dying. The German soldier points his gun at Karol's head]

Karol Wojty?a:
Lord, most merciful God. Welcome this man's soul. [the soldier moves his gun away, dies] Forgive him his sins.

Marek:
Let's go. [aggressively] Let's go! Stubborn. You are a fool, do you know that? You could've killed us both.

Karol Wojty?a:
You didn't have to take their lives.

Marek:
They were German.

Karol Wojty?a:
They were human beings, Marek!

Marek:
Not for what they do to us! They do not deserve to live!

Karol Wojty?a:
God decides that. Not you!

Karol Wojty?a:
One day, God may use you too, Marek!

Marek:
Sure he will. I can hardly wait!

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
[to Cardinal Sapieha] It's just what we need, another intellectual priest.

Karol Wojty?a:
With all due respect, Archbishop Wyszy?ski. There are many of us who...

[Wyszy?ski hands Karol a photograph of Marek who is killed]

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
I understand you knew him. [Karol stands shocked] One by one, they are hunting down the members of the Home Army. They know that they will go underground again. Anyone who was a part of it and tried to spoil their plans for Communist Poland.

Karol Wojty?a:
There are many ways to spoil such plans.

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
If you wish to survive, you have to understand.

Karol Wojty?a:
Yes. Thank you, excellency.

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
I also tell you this because I am told that there are many young people in Poland who count on you.

Karol Wojty?a:
Thank you, Holy Father. For allowing me to be present.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
[dying] The time has come.

[Karol takes his hand]

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Karol. Trust God. He has a plan for you. In you, he has placed a gift. Honour it.

Karol Wojty?a:
I will do whatever God asks.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha:
Dear God, protect him.

Karol Wojty?a:
The Communists say this: "No room for God in their new city."

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
That is what they say.

Karol Wojty?a:
They don't understand. He's already there.

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
Whatever you maybe thinking, we cannot afford a head on collision which will result in pain and bloodshed. We must work with them.

Karol Wojty?a:
Apparently, there is an open area where a church could be built.

Cardinal Konig:
I believe the Lord asks us to show the world the pope is not only and always an Italian.

Second Cardinal:
The last known Italian was uh...

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger:
Exactly 455 years ago.

African Cardinal:
We must have someone who can reach all people, all nations. A pope who can be papa to everyone.

Cardinal Konig:
Especially youth.

African Cardinal:
Yes, exactly. Young people need a voice they can trust.

Cardinal Konig:
Siri and Benelli are deadlocked.

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
God has challenged us.

Cardinal Konig:
Perhaps Poland could present a candidate?

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
No. I am too old, and if I left Poland, it would be a victory for the Communists.

Cardinal Konig:
Eminence, there is another?

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
You - you don't mean... No, he's too young, far too young Wojty?a.

Cardinal Konig:
Young, but one of the finest minds in the room.

Cardinal Karol Wojty?a:
Your eminence, I - I am needed in Poland. I have so much to do, and there's so many people count on my... What must I do?

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
Do you remember Quo Vadis? Peter was fleeing Rome and he came across Jesus, who was going the other way, and he asked him--

Cardinal Karol Wojty?a:
"Domine, quo vadis?"

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
"Lord, where are you going?" And our Lord replied.

Wyszy?ski and Wojty?a:
"Eo Romam iterum crucifigi."

Stefan Cardinal Wyszy?ski:
"I am returning to Rome to be crucified again." If you should be elected. I beg you to accept... For Poland.

Elderly Cardinal:
[in Italian] Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?

[pause. Karol stands]

Cardinal Karol Wojty?a:
[in Italian] I accept.

[Cardinals Felici and Konig walk out onto the Basilica balcony]

Cardinal Felici:
I announce to you a great joy, we have a new Pope!

[the crowd of people cheer]

Cardinal Felici:
Cardinal Woj-ty-la!

[Karol, now Pope John Paul II, walks up the stairs ready to step out onto the loggia]

Master of Ceremonies:
Your Holiness, at this time. It is customary to give only the apostolic blessing.

Pope John Paul II:
It's strange how much I miss it.

Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz:
What, Holiness?

Pope John Paul II:
Hiking, kayak trips. By now the Tatras must be covered in snow.

Pope John Paul II:
My dear Casaroli. According to the rules, I need a Secretary of State.

Agostino Cardinal Casaroli:
Yes you do. And I would be happy to assist in the matter as I had the honour of serving Pope Paul VI.

Pope John Paul II:
And that is why I want you to be my Secretary of State.

Agostino Cardinal Casaroli:
Oh. Holiness, no, no, no. Those were other times. I would be inadequate. You don't need me.

Pope John Paul II:
But I do.

Agostino Cardinal Casaroli:
But why?

Pope John Paul II:
You are tactful in ten languages, a master diplomat, deeply loyal. And as I have noticed on occasion, you have strongly held opinions that would not necessarily agree with mine. With God's blessing between the two of us, the scales will balance.

[pause. Casaroli smiles]

Pope John Paul II:
Done. [they shake hands]

Agostino Cardinal Casaroli:
[to the pope] Be cautious with matters dealing with religious freedom.

[meeting with Andrei Gromyko]

Andrei Gromyko:
Five minutes. I believe the Catholic church cause great importance to the strengthened of peace, to the supplement, and to the liquidation of weapons of mass destruction.

Pope John Paul II:
Yes, yes. We are in accord with all of that, of course. But, Mr. Gromyko, let me ask you one thing. Is it possible that the obstacles to religious freedom have not been entirely removed from every area of your country?

[Gromyko turns to talk to his associates, he turns back to the pope]

Andrei Gromyko:
From the earliest days, the Soviet state has guaranteed freedom of religious belief.

[pause]

Pope John Paul II:
That is more or less what they thought.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
Man does not live by rocks alone.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
Faced with this abyss of evil. I can only respond with an abyss of love.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
I will do whatever God asks.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[to his friends on sexuality] Listen, sexuality is dear to God. As long as it is an expression of true love. It is the matter we use to give ourselves to another person. Not for fun or for a moment. But completely. Sexuality expressed in an irresponsible moment is only another way that we can dehumanise each other.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
Freedom to worship is a sacrosanct right of workers, all workers! And the fact that we are all here together demonstrates that this Catholic community is already a reality! As we stand here in the middle of Nowa Huta! There is already a church!

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[when being asked about the Soviets removing their cross from Nowa Huta] Next Christmas, we shall put it back. We will put it back until it stays.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[seeing Roman for the first time after years] Praise God's mercy.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[praying] Is this what you always intended to guide me? Like me, perhaps Peter felt great trepidation. Perhaps he would prefer to remain by his lake, with his boat and his nets, like me. In you, there must be suffering ahead. The pope needs to be intimate with suffering. So, guided by you, he arrived here. And now you ask me... to leave Kraków, and my people, my friends, my beloved mountains. If this... is real. So be it. Mary, Totus Tuus. I am all yours.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[now the new Pope, speaking in Italian] Praised be Jesus Christ. ["Always be praised"] Dear Brothers and Sisters, the eminent Cardinals have called a new bishop of Rome. They have called him from a far country... Also I don't know if... if I can make myself clear in your, in our Italian language. If I make a mistake, I know you will correct me.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
I am not a pope who will stay cloistered. I must get out. I must have contact, or I cannot be a pasture.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
I want to be your voice, the voice of those who cannot speak. The voice of those who are silenced. The voice of the worker who can no longer wait for the full recognition of his dignity as a man and the Son of God.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
We have been called to an impossible task. We can only trust in God and let him lead us.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[First Encyclical 'Redemptor Hominis'] Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is comprehensible for himself. His life is senseless. If love is not revealed to him. If he does not encounter love. If he does not experience it, make it his own. If he does not participate intimately in it...

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
Friendship is one of God's greatest gifts. A rare place where the truth is spoken.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
I wish to sing a hymn of praise to Divine Providence which has allowed me to come home as a pilgrim. [the crowd of people cheer] I son of polish land. I John Paul Two. I shout from all the depths of this Millennium, I cry on the vigil of Pentecost: Lord, let your spirit descend! Let your spirit descend and renew the face of the earth. The face of this land!

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
Always remember, you are polish. And music is in your soul. Let me tell you one or two things. First, I love you all. [the crowd of people clap and cheer] Second, second, allow Christ to find you. Third, I wish I could stay with you here, and climb the Tatras. [the people start chanting "Stay with us!"] Too late. It's too late! Where were you last October when I was elected? [the people laugh]

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
Forgiveness is God's might.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[struggling to walk] I'm a sportsman! I've always been a sportsman! Now every step I take, is like a knife.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[learning about his illness] Let's get to it. I have work to do.

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
To discover your own unique person. This is a difficult undertaking. To become what you must become. You are asked to make sacrifices to bear burdens, and why you do all of this? It is a time in your life, you are asked to encounter the mystery of God. I can tell you this: When your way becomes too difficult. You must always remember, you are not alone. You are not alone. The living God walks beside you. He is, and always will be, your best friend. I also can say to you: I feel so refreshed by our celebration together this day that I believe we must repeat it next year. And the year after, and the year after that! We will call it - we will call it "World Youth Day"! It is our invention! How beautiful you are! God bless you all!

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[to Cardinal Ratzinger] It's worth suffering for the truth. Without such will, we should not undertake that path. These words are yours, aren't they?

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
[after his last public appearance] We will try again tomorrow...

Karol Wojty?A/Pope John Paul Ii:
I leave no property behind me of which it is necessary to dispose. My personal notes are to be band. I ask that this be attended to by Father Stanislaw, whom I thank for his collaboration and help, so prolonged over the years and so understanding. As for all other thanks, I must leave them in my heart before God himself. Because it is difficult to express them.