Even before being elected Pope, Bishop Wojtyła was known in the universal Church and his voice counted. Despite his young age, he was an outstanding figure of the Church. He participated in synods, became a friend of Pope Paul VI, and preached retreats for the Roman Curia. He was considered an outstanding thinker and pastor.
After the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, Primate Wyszynski suggested the name for the new Pope: John Paul II.
From the outset, the new Pope surprised his entourage by his independence. The day after the election, on October 17th, he went to the Gemelli Polyclinic to visit his friend Bishop Deskur, who was very ill. Likewise, during the inaugural Mass of the pontificate, when he saw the sick, he decided to go to them despite the protests of the Papal Master of ceremonies.
Immediately after the election, Primate Stefan Wyszyński asked John Paul II how he felt here in the Vatican, and the Pope replied: “As if I have always been here.” “This is the grace of God, the grace of the state,” commented Cardinal Wyszynski.
John Paul II prepared his homilies and speeches himself. He wrote them by hand, in Polish. It took him two hours to prepare a long speech and an hour for a short one.
