George E. Stanley - Pope John Paul II. Young Man of the Church

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The Childhood of World Figures books, a companion series to our acclaimed Childhood of Famous Americans series, chronicles the early years of famous men and women from around the world in an accessible manner. Each book is faithful in spirit to the values and experiences that influenced the persons development. History is fleshed out with fictionalized details, and conversations have been added to make the stories come alive for todays reader, but every reasonable effort has been made to make the stories consistent with the events, ethics, and character of their subjects.

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The Editors

POPE JOHN PAUL II
YOUNG MAN OF THE CHURCH
By George E. Stanley

Aladdin Paperbacks

To Dr. Andrea Marie Montgomery,
our daughter-in-law-to-be!

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

ALADDIN PAPERBACKS
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

Text copyright 2005 by George E. Stanley

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

ALADDIN PAPERBACKS, CHILDHOOD OF WORLD FIGURES, and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Designed by Lisa Vega

The text of this book was set in Aldine721 BT.

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Aladdin Paperbacks edition July 2005

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

Library of Congress Control Number 2005926077

ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-1282-8

ISBN-10: 1-4169-1282-7
eISBN-13: 978-1-43911-369-1

www.SimonandSchuster.com

POPE JOHN PAUL II

At the sound of his mothers cries from the bedroom, thirteen-year-old Edmund Wojtylaknown in the family as Mundekturned to his father and said, Will Mama be all right?

Lieutenant Karol Wojtyla smiled. Of course, Mundek, he said. Childbirth is a natural thing, and the midwife has delivered hundreds of children here in Wadowice.

I hope its a boy, Mundek said. He grinned at his father. I would like very much to have a brother who might one day grow up to be the pope.

Mundek saw a shadow pass across his fathers face, and he suddenly wished now that he had thought before he had spoken. His parents were probably wanting a daughter to fill the emptiness left by his sister, Olga, who had only lived for a few days. Mundek vaguely remembered their baptizing the tiny girl at home, something he knew the church permitted in emergencies, and then, within hours, burying her in an unmarked grave in Wadowices cemetery. After that, his parents never mentioned Olga again.

I dont think that will ever happen, Mundek, Lieutenant Wojtyla said. Popes dont come from Poland.

Another cry from the tiny bedroom sent Karol to the door. He opened it slightly, just enough to peer inside, and said, Good midwife, do you need anything?

Yes! I need for you to pull your head back from that door and close it! the midwife hissed at him. This is no time for a man to be present!

As her husband shut the door without comment, Emilia Wojtyla wondered if she would survive this birth. She had no strength left.

Youre doing fine, Mrs. Wojtyla, the midwife said soothingly. The child is taking its time, but there are no complications.

Emilia took a deep breath and let it out. Do I hear singing? she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yes, Mrs. Wojtyla, you do, the midwife said.

Why? Emilia asked.

The people of Wadowice are celebrating, Mrs. Wojtyla. This is May 18, 1920, a date that we will never forget, the midwife said. She looked at the clock on the wall. Marshal Pilsudskis train has probably arrived at the station.

Even as another pain shot through her body, Emilia managed to smile. Oh yes, how could I have forgotten? she said. My child will be born into a free Poland.

In April, Marshal J zef Pilsudski had signed an alliance with Ukraines Symon Petliura to wage a joint war against the Soviet Union. Under Pilsudskis command the Polish and Ukrainian armies launched a successful offensive against the Russian troops in Ukraine. On May 7 they won a major victory when they captured the Ukrainian city Kiev.

Outside, the singing and shouting grew. The midwife went to the window.

What do you see? Emilia asked.

I see many, many people, the midwife replied. I see a horse-drawn carriage covered in flowers, and inside it, Marshal Pilsudski is waving to everyone.

Open the window, please, Emilia said.

The midwife did as she was asked, and the bedroom was suddenly flooded with light.

Emilia let out a sharp cry, and the midwife returned to her side. Within minutes, the midwife had delivered the baby.

Its a boy, Mrs. Wojtyla, the midwife proclaimed, just as the bells summoning people to prayer began from St. Marys Church across the street.

On June 20, Emilia, still weak but beaming with pride, surrounded by her husband and Mundek and a few friends, held her new son in her arms while a military chaplain, Father Franciszek Zak, baptized the baby.

When Father Zak asked, What name will you give this child? Karol said, in a strong voice, Karol J zef Wojtyla.

It was Emilia who had insisted that the boy be given his fathers first name, but for Karol, there had never been any question as to what his sons middle name would be. J zef would honor not only Marshal Pilsudski, the founding hero of the newly independent Polish Republic, but also Franz J zef, emperor of Austria-Hungary from 1848 to 1916, in whose army Karol had proudly served.

As the weeks passed, the baby, whom the family now called Lolek, surprised everyone by gaining more weight than had been expected; the midwife had been concerned that because Emilia was so weak, her milk wouldnt be nourishing enough. Friends who visited the Wojtylas remarked that Lolek was the picture of good health.

Soon Emilia, too, had regained enough of her strength that she was able to get out of bed and resume some of her normal activities.

Are you sure you shouldnt rest for a few more days? Karol asked her. Mundek and I can take care of ourselves and Lolek, too, except when hes nursing.

Im fine, Karol, Emilia told her husband. I dont want to be waited on anymore.

At first, Emilia would only be out of bed for an hour or so before she began to tire, but gradually she stayed up longer and longer, and one day she announced, Im taking Lolek for a stroll in his pram.

Its a beautiful day for that, Mama, Mundek said. Youll enjoy the flowers and the trees in the park.

But if you get too tired, Emilia, you should sit on one of the benches, Karol said. Lolek can watch the children play. He pinched Loleks cheek. At this rate, hell be joining them before long.

Yes, Id like very much to see the park, because Ive already missed the first blooms of this year, Emilia said, but Im also going to pay a visit to the photographer.