Directors of Polish state and private television
channels have confirmed that audience numbers soar whenever there is
talk of John Paul II’s canonization.
There is a risk that the overall evaluation of Francis’ first 100 days as Pope could be influenced by the strong desire to see the late Polish pope proclaimed a saint by his Argentinean successor.
A wish which has been expressed in a myriad ways but has still not been granted. Whichever way you look at it, Francis did not make this happen in the first few days of his papacy, Warsaw, Krakow and Rome have been whispering.
More and more of John Paul II’s fellow countrymen, both clerics and lay people are coming to the conclusion that the new Pope cardinal brought to Rome “from the other side of the world” has outdone Wojtyla, the Pope “from a far-away country”, in terms of courage and popularity. Many priests in Rome, who have daily contact with Francis are of the same opinion.
According to many Poles, by giving such an emphasis to the real or suggested changes in Francis’ pontificate, Italian Vaticanistas are making this great national figure of theirs disappear into oblivion.
As Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz recalled just a few days ago, the decision regarding John Paul II canonization could be the only criterion by which he is judged as a figure. Or worse still, it may be regarded as his only task as occupier of the Chair of Peter.
Even in Poland, there are those who say it would not be wise to canonize John Paul II this year, as such little time has passed since the Argentinean Pope’s election. 2013 would go down in history as Francis’ year. According to this minority, 2014 would be better.