In January 1979, during his first pilgrimage to Mexico as a correspondent for "El Sol de Mexico," I found myself with a group of journalists on the papal plane. At some point in our cab came someone from the Holy See press office. He was clearly excited. Someone asked what happened? - The Holy Father wants to come here to say hello and greet you - he said. We were convinced that the Pope come, greet us, and come back to you. But John Paul II as soon as he appeared, he began to examine each individually. He asked, he answered, he gave interviews. Asked me about who I am and for whom I work. When I heard the title of the newspaper, said: "Ah," Sun of Mexico ", what a beautiful title. Over Mexico, the sun should always shine. "
T s press conference on board the aircraft have become an unwritten tradition of papal pilgrimages. They show how much John Paul II understood the role of the mass media. You could say before him that the door to information, the Vatican were closed. Many of our questions met with answers like: do not know, then you can not say. Holy See to the media people was neither important nor interesting source of information. And if you already wrote about it, it resisted more on speculation than information. John Paul II is changed. Appointed spokesman Navarro Valls journalist. Gave him the green light. And suddenly, there is nothing to talk about and write. John Paul II opened the doors of the Church of communication so widely that, although changed many, no one dares to close them.
John Paul II as an every man had enemies, even among journalists. But - and this is not just my opinion - there were very few. He had charisma to the people. He was a very "hard" or a "conservative" in their views. At the same time very well thought of, not only about the Church in Europe but also of Catholics around the world. Evangelized them, gained by the presence of humans. Therefore pilgrimage. In this way he thought about peasant in Honduras, Bolivia and Mexico. He was there for them, and they are perceiving.
J ako reporter watched the pontificate of John Paul II at close range. When he arrived in Rome for 58 years. He was young, strong, athletic. Walking in the mountains, went skiing, swim. He was like "Super Man". We talked about him: "God's Athlete." Until the attack on St. Peter's Square. Peter. From that moment began a long "Calvary." It was not just the last few months or years. Calvary began May 13, 1981. Health problems, surgery, Parkinson's disease, suffering. In this way, to burn.
P amiętam our farewell. It was on the plane on the way back from Lourdes in 2004. We have seen that the Pope was already very sick. He did not come to the journalists, but anyone who wanted to be able to approach him. Because I felt he was leaving, I asked for a meeting. I remember it like today: he looked at me with her deep, piercing eyes, he touched me, and said, "Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
K hen he died, it felt as if the left close to the family. April 2, 2005, about 20.30 I went to the Holy See press office. After an hour I reached the apartment. I turned on the TV. Reported that the Pope is dead. At the same time the phone rang. I have received. Some radio asked for a few words to comment on live. I agreed. Instantly they let me on the air. And then I looked at my picture of Pope John Paul II, which hangs on the wall in my apartment. I was speechless. I could not say anything. I started to cry. That was my whole comment.
Jorge Sandoval , a Mexican journalist and Vatican "El Sol de Mexico."
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