Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, one of the men who knew Pope John Paul II the best, celebrated Mass in Washington on Wednesday in honour of the late pope’s Marian spirituality.Cardinal Dziwisz served as personal secretary to Pope John Paul for nearly 40 years. Joining him in concelebrating the Mass at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Centre were Cardinals Adam Maida of Detroit and Theodore McCarrick, the retired archbishop of Washington.
“We know the achievements which were made during the pontificate of John Paul, who totally entrusted himself to Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, our Mother,” said Cardinal Dziwisz, who gave the homily in his native Polish. An English-language text of his homily was released at the Mass.
Cardinal Maida read the English translation, alternating with Cardinal Dziwisz speaking in Polish.
There was a strong presence of Polish-Americans at the Mass. At the end of the liturgy, three children in traditional Polish attire presented the cardinals with flowers. The total attendance for the Mass, which was open to the public, was around 250 people.
“The history of Polish immigrants in America is filled with many touching pages, characterised by obstacles, strenuous work, the industriousness of our countrymen and their descendents,” said Cardinal Dziwisz.
Addressing the congregation before the Mass began, Cardinal Maida, the founder and president of the Pope John II Cultural Centre and himself a Polish-American, described the late pope as “a pastor throughout the world.”
Cardinal Dziwisz commended Pope John Paul for his role in defeating the oppressive system of communism. He said it was symbolic that the Pope John Paul II Cultural Centre was located in the American capital.
The cardinal also noted the meeting Pope Benedict XVI held with interreligious leaders at the centre during his recent apostolic journey to the United States.
The Pope met with about 200 representatives of Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism on April 17.
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