The prophetic poem about John Paul II

Summary:

The astonishing "prophetic poem", written by Juliusz Słowacki, one of the greatest Polish poets of the 19th century, contributed to the expectation of a "Slavonic Pope" who would come from Poland.

The poem in question is entitled Król-Duch, in Polish, which literally translates as "Spirit-King". It was written in the 1840s and is considered one of Słowacki's most important works. The poem is both prophetic and messianic in tone, and has been interpreted by many Poles as a prediction about the future of the country and the Catholic Church, which found fulfilment when Cardinal Wojtyla became John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope for centuries, on October 16, 1978.

In Król-Duch, Słowacki presents a vision of a future pope from the Slavic nation, who will be a defender of justice and freedom. This pope is seen as a spiritual guide and saviour for oppressed Poland. The idea of the "Slav pope" in Słowacki's poem has been interpreted as a symbol of hope and national rebirth for Poland, which at the time was facing a difficult period of partition and oppression by foreign powers.

Słowacki's poem had a lasting influence on Polish thought, and was used to nurture the nationalist and messianic sentiment of the Polish people. It reinforced the idea that Poland had a special destiny and played a crucial role in the history and mission of the Catholic Church.

In this way, Juliusz Słowacki's "prophetic poem" helped shape the expectation of a "Slavonic pope" in Poland and was an important part of the Polish collective imagination about the papacy and its connection with the nation.

The poem made an impression on the Polish people, and John Paul II could not have been unaware of it, since Slowacki, along with Norwid, was one of Karol Wojtyla's favourite writers and poets. The Polish bishops were delighted to remind Wojtyla of it just after his election. You might even think that John Paul II took pains to follow to the letter and in detail the 'programme' outlined by the famous Polish poet, who was buried near his home in Wawel Krakow.

Beyond reasons to believe:

John Paul II's life was truly tied to the cross of Christ, through his difficult childhood under Nazi and Communist rules, through the death of his mother, brother and father, and through all that he had to endure afterwards as priest, archbishop, cardinal and pope.

Going further:

This excellent biographical documentary, "John Paul II, a Pope Who Made History"

More information:

• Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II by George Weigel, Harper Perennial (March 3, 2020)

• Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II (Tv film 2005)
• The miracle of John Paul II's survival after the attack on him, in video on the YouTube channel 1000 raisons de croire: Here's how the Virgin Mary prevented an attack