The Pope of "Totus tuus" to Mary

When Karol Wojtyla became the first Slavic Pope in history on October 16, 1978, the Polish bishops immediately thought of the "prophetic poem" written in the first half of the nineteenth century by Julius Slowacki (1809-1849):

God’s bell the Conclave's petty strife has stilled:

          Its mighty tone

Brings news of Slavic hope fulfilled –

          The Papal Throne!

Pope who will not – Italian-like – take fright

          At sabre-thrust

But, brave as God himself, stand and give fight:

          His world – but dust!

Made radiant by the Word, the Pontiff's face –

          A torch that guides

The faithful swarming towards that lighted place

          Where God resides.

Obedient to his prayer and his command,

          Not only men,

But, if he wills, the sun itself will stand:

          Power beyond ken!

To bear our load – this world by God designed –

          That power we need:

Our Slavic Pope, brother to all mankind,

          Is there to lead!

This poem had marked the Polish popular consciousness, and the hope of a Slavic Pope was born at that time. One might think that Saint John Paul II applied himself to following the "program" laid down by the famous Polish poet, who was buried near his home in Wawel Krakow, Poland.

The Marie de Nazareth Team