The world heard about the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025. At this crucial moment Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz in an interview with VaticanNews revealed unknown details about the Pope's relations with Poland. This is what a longtime hierarchic associate revealed.
Pope Francis and Poland: Recent talks
Cardinal Dziwisz confirmed that the Pope was fully interested in the situation in Poland. – He was sick of problems, but never lost faith in our nation. He said:
Poland has always been faithful to the Church and the Pope. She never betrayed Peter.
He mentioned the hierarch.
These words became the key to understanding why the cardinal felt the moral obligation to accompany Francis in his final moments.
Franciscan simplicity in Kraków
Memories of the Pope's visit to World Days Youth in 2016 reveal its character:
- He lived 6 days at Franciscan Street, in modest conditions
- Every day at dawn, he prayed in the halls while others were still asleep.
- Sam was washing his socks, refusing to help clean up.
- It was the spirit of a true Franciscan," stressed Dziwisz.
An unexpected triumph in Kraków
The organizers did not expect more than 2 million pilgrims from all over the world to attend the event. – The Pope was initially full of concerns, but when he saw the sea of young people, a perfect organization and enthusiasm, he said:
This is where the Church lives!
– the cardinal reported.
This image of Poland as a country of faith, culture and love for Pope Francis took with him to the Vatican.
The Heritage of Trust
The announcement of national mourning on 26 April 2025 by President Duda confirms Poland's special bond with the Holy See.
I can absolutely confirm, because I've been to his house a few times in person, not long ago. He was interested in everything that happened in Poland. He hated problems, wondered what was happening to Poland, but always had confidence that Poland would remain faithful – faithful to the Church and faithful to the Pope. Poland has never betrayed Peter, has always been faithful to him and has remained faithful to him to the end. Therefore today I am here, of course as a cardinal, and I fulfil my moral duty to be with the Pope in these last moments, including this farewell.
Card. Stanislaw Dziwisz, interview for Vatican News
He came to Krakow for World Youth Days and lived on Franciscan for six days. We admired him not only because he was Pope, but for his simplicity. In the morning, when everyone was still asleep, he was already walking the halls and praying. The priest who wanted to clean his apartment in Krakow noticed that the pope was washing his socks himself, preparing everything for himself. He kept the Franciscan spirit to the end. He survived the World Youth Days in Krakow, where no one expected as many as two million young people to arrive. I saw him come to Krakow – he was a bit uncertain about what would happen to him. But when he saw the crowds of youth, their enthusiasm, wonderful order and beautiful liturgy, he saw that it was a country where the Church is alive, where there is culture and love for the Pope. He drove away with that, and it stayed in his heart.
Card. Stanislaw Dziwisz, interview for Vatican News
