In his will, to which alterations were made on a
number of occasions throughout the course of the spiritual exercises in
the Vatican, John Paul II ordered those who could be considered his
heirs to burn his personal notes when he died. He addressed this request to his trusted personal secretary, Stanislaw Dziwisz: “I ask that Fr. Stanisław see to this, and I thank him for his help and collaboration, so understanding for so many years.
Shortly after the Polish Pope’s funeral, we asked the future Archbishop of Cracow why he did not fulfil the late Pope’s wish. His response was that the notes were of historical importance.
Now Cracow has announced the publication on 5 February, of a book entitled “I am in God’s hands. Personal notes 1962-2003”.
Polish publishing house Znak, says the book contains “the most important personal, innermost questions and moving reflections and prayers that marked [the Pope’s] everyday life.”
This includes “notes that show his concern for those dear to him - friends and collaborators – and for the Church that was entrusted to him.”
The notes, Polish Catholic news agency KAI adds, “now become the key document in John Paul II’s canonization process.”
KAI quotes Cardinal Dziwisz saying: “I didn’t burn John Paul II’s notes because they are the key to interpreting his spirituality, his innermost self: his relationships with God, others and himself.”
Meanwhile, Znak said they were honoured to be publishing the book and promised that great care would be taken in editing the book.