Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II quotes from Pope John Paul II (2005)

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Man does not live by rocks alone.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

I will do whatever God asks.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Listen, sexuality is dear to God. As long as it is an expression of true love. It is the matter we use to give ourselves to another person. Not for fun or for a moment. But completely. Sexuality expressed in an irresponsible moment is only another way that we can dehumanise each other.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Freedom to worship is a sacrosanct right of workers, all workers! And the fact that we are all here together demonstrates that this Catholic community is already a reality! As we stand here in the middle of Nowa Huta! There is already a church!

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Next Christmas, we shall put it back. We will put it back until it stays.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Praise God's mercy.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Is this what you always intended to guide me? Like me, perhaps Peter felt great trepidation. Perhaps he would prefer to remain by his lake, with his boat and his nets, like me. In you, there must be suffering ahead. The pope needs to be intimate with suffering. So, guided by you, he arrived here. And now you ask me... to leave Kraków, and my people, my friends, my beloved mountains. If this... is real. So be it. Mary, Totus Tuus. I am all yours.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Praised be Jesus Christ. ["Always be praised"] Dear Brothers and Sisters, the eminent Cardinals have called a new bishop of Rome. They have called him from a far country... Also I don't know if... if I can make myself clear in your, in our Italian language. If I make a mistake, I know you will correct me.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

I am not a pope who will stay cloistered. I must get out. I must have contact, or I cannot be a pasture.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

I want to be your voice, the voice of those who cannot speak. The voice of those who are silenced. The voice of the worker who can no longer wait for the full recognition of his dignity as a man and the Son of God.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

We have been called to an impossible task. We can only trust in God and let him lead us.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is comprehensible for himself. His life is senseless. If love is not revealed to him. If he does not encounter love. If he does not experience it, make it his own. If he does not participate intimately in it...

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Friendship is one of God's greatest gifts. A rare place where the truth is spoken.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

I wish to sing a hymn of praise to Divine Providence which has allowed me to come home as a pilgrim. [the crowd of people cheer] I son of polish land. I John Paul Two. I shout from all the depths of this Millennium, I cry on the vigil of Pentecost: Lord, let your spirit descend! Let your spirit descend and renew the face of the earth. The face of this land!

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Always remember, you are polish. And music is in your soul. Let me tell you one or two things. First, I love you all. [the crowd of people clap and cheer] Second, second, allow Christ to find you. Third, I wish I could stay with you here, and climb the Tatras. [the people start chanting "Stay with us!"] Too late. It's too late! Where were you last October when I was elected? [the people laugh]

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Forgiveness is God's might.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

I'm a sportsman! I've always been a sportsman! Now every step I take, is like a knife.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

Let's get to it. I have work to do.

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

To discover your own unique person. This is a difficult undertaking. To become what you must become. You are asked to make sacrifices to bear burdens, and why you do all of this? It is a time in your life, you are asked to encounter the mystery of God. I can tell you this: When your way becomes too difficult. You must always remember, you are not alone. You are not alone. The living God walks beside you. He is, and always will be, your best friend. I also can say to you: I feel so refreshed by our celebration together this day that I believe we must repeat it next year. And the year after, and the year after that! We will call it - we will call it "World Youth Day"! It is our invention! How beautiful you are! God bless you all!

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

It's worth suffering for the truth. Without such will, we should not undertake that path. These words are yours, aren't they?

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

We will try again tomorrow...

Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II

I leave no property behind me of which it is necessary to dispose. My personal notes are to be band. I ask that this be attended to by Father Stanislaw, whom I thank for his collaboration and help, so prolonged over the years and so understanding. As for all other thanks, I must leave them in my heart before God himself. Because it is difficult to express them.

Faced with this abyss of evil. I can only respond with an abyss of love.
Freedom to worship is a sacrosanct right of workers, all workers! And the fact that we are all here together demonstrates that this Catholic community is already a reality!
If you should be elected. I beg you to accept... For Poland. ~ Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński
When your way becomes too difficult. You must always remember, you are not alone. You are not alone. The living God walks beside you. He is, and always will be, your best friend.

My little Lolek, you are a silly goose. The world is complicated, Lolek. God is simple.

Pope John Paul II

Holy Mary... My mother...

I'll show you a simple way. One, two, three. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Now you try.

Pope John Paul II

One... Two... Three...

Karol Wojtyła Snr

Right now, there is no time for Hamlet. You must get a work permit.

Karol Wojtyła

A permit? Work at what, father?

Karol Wojtyła Snr

If you don't have one. You risk being deported to Germany. Forced labor. Is that what you want?

Karol Wojtyła

What I want is to stop them.

Karol Wojtyła Snr

No, Karol. What you must want, is to stay alive, and to stay polish.

Karol Wojtyła

Forgive me, father. You're right. It is too dangerous. But in this moment, the Theatre is all I have. Besides your potatoes of course.
[Wojtyła Snr kisses his son on his forehead]

Karol Wojtyła

I don't know what to think anymore.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Wisdom is a grace we must seek from God.

Karol Wojtyła

How can we fight them?

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Violence only leads to more violence. If you must choose a weapon, choose the one they fear the most.

Karol Wojtyła

Our faith?

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Yes, our faith, and our intelligence. [points to Karol's forehead] Our fine minds.

Karol Wojtyła

Yes. Yes. Thank you, excellency. [kisses Sapieha's hand and walks away]

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Wojtyła? [Karol turns] Caution.

Anna

What do you know about cutting stones?

Karol Wojtyła

It's what they permit me to do.

Anna

I never get to see you.

Karol Wojtyła

I'm sorry, Anna. It's just I've been having so many thoughts about how to resist.

Anna

By breaking rocks?

Karol Wojtyła

No, of course not.

Karol Wojtyła

... Our skill, our imagination. Use all of it as a weapon.

Anna

What do you mean?

Karol Wojtyła

Well, if what they are trying to do is eliminate any trace of Poland, our objective must be to keep Poland alive. And so, we should put on a kind of... kind of subversive Theatre. You know? Put on plays that reflect who we are. [pause] You disagree?

Anna

Karol. What will happen to us? You and me? [pause] Tell me, please. I need to know what you're thinking.

Karol Wojtyła

Anna, what I think is... What I think is, you will have a beautiful future. Find a handsome, talented husband and have five or six wo--

Anna

What if I've already found him? [pause] Karol, I must know what you feel.

Karol Wojtyła

Anna. The times we are living in.... My heart is already consumed.
[pause. Anna walks away]

Roman

I'm proud to be Polish! I'm just as proud to be Jewish!

Karol Wojtyła

Roman!

Karol Wojtyła

Lord, most merciful God. Welcome this man's soul. [the soldier moves his gun away, dies] Forgive him his sins.

Let's go. [aggressively] Let's go! Stubborn. You are a fool, do you know that? You could've killed us both.

Karol Wojtyła

You didn't have to take their lives.

They were German.

Karol Wojtyła

They were human beings, Marek!

Not for what they do to us! They do not deserve to live!

Karol Wojtyła

God decides that. Not you!

Karol Wojtyła

One day, God may use you too, Marek!

Sure he will. I can hardly wait!

It's just what we need, another intellectual priest.

Karol Wojtyła

With all due respect, Archbishop Wyszyński. There are many of us who...

I understand you knew him. [Karol stands shocked] One by one, they are hunting down the members of the Home Army. They know that they will go underground again. Anyone who was a part of it and tried to spoil their plans for Communist Poland.

Karol Wojtyła

There are many ways to spoil such plans.

If you wish to survive, you have to understand.

Karol Wojtyła

Yes. Thank you, excellency.

I also tell you this because I am told that there are many young people in Poland who count on you.

Karol Wojtyła

Thank you, Holy Father. For allowing me to be present.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

The time has come.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Karol. Trust God. He has a plan for you. In you, he has placed a gift. Honour it.

Karol Wojtyła

I will do whatever God asks.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Dear God, protect him.

Karol Wojtyła

The Communists say this: "No room for God in their new city."

That is what they say.

Karol Wojtyła

They don't understand. He's already there.

Whatever you maybe thinking, we cannot afford a head on collision which will result in pain and bloodshed. We must work with them.

Karol Wojtyła

Apparently, there is an open area where a church could be built.

Pope John Paul II

It's strange how much I miss it.

What, Holiness?

Pope John Paul II

Hiking, kayak trips. By now the Tatras must be covered in snow.

Pope John Paul II

My dear Casaroli. According to the rules, I need a Secretary of State.

Yes you do. And I would be happy to assist in the matter as I had the honour of serving Pope Paul VI.

Pope John Paul II

And that is why I want you to be my Secretary of State.

Oh. Holiness, no, no, no. Those were other times. I would be inadequate. You don't need me.

Pope John Paul II

But I do.

But why?

Pope John Paul II

You are tactful in ten languages, a master diplomat, deeply loyal. And as I have noticed on occasion, you have strongly held opinions that would not necessarily agree with mine. With God's blessing between the two of us, the scales will balance.

Pope John Paul II

Done. [they shake hands]

Be cautious with matters dealing with religious freedom.

Five minutes. I believe the Catholic church cause great importance to the strengthened of peace, to the supplement, and to the liquidation of weapons of mass destruction.

Pope John Paul II

Yes, yes. We are in accord with all of that, of course. But, Mr. Gromyko, let me ask you one thing. Is it possible that the obstacles to religious freedom have not been entirely removed from every area of your country?

From the earliest days, the Soviet state has guaranteed freedom of religious belief.

Pope John Paul II

That is more or less what they thought.

In the next thirty days, you have twenty nine separate speaking engagements.

And you've emphasized how you must finish your first and second one.

Pope John Paul II

Nevertheless. The mission of the church is to implement the precepts of Vatican II.

But I implore, your Holiness. Could we start implementing it somewhere other than Mexico?

Pope John Paul II

Perhaps Poland.

Anywhere but Mexico and Poland.

Pope John Paul II

Mexico is constitutionally anticlerical. For one hundred years priests and nuns have not been allowed to wear their robes and habits in public. Can you imagine? In Mexico, the church does not exist... [accidentally knocks off a piece of cheese from his plate. He goes down to pick it up while his aide tries to get it for him] In Puebla, in January. The Latin American bishop's conference is taking place. We should send someone, don't you think?

Yes, Holiness. But that someone does not have to be you.

Pope John Paul II

But it could be.

Well, may I remind, your Holiness, [the pope puts the piece cheese back onto his plate] that the Holy See does not have relations with Mexico and may I make one other point: We have not been invited.

Pope John Paul II

My dear Casaroli. You're a man of great wisdom and imagination.

Well, I imagine that we could avoid the problem entirely if you went as a private citizen.

Pope John Paul II

Did you see my cheese?

Pope John Paul II

Friendship is one of God's greatest gifts. A rare place where the truth is spoken.

Roman

Then you and I must speak just the way we used to. Plain and simple.

Pope John Paul II

Plain and simple?

Roman

All right. Well like, I have many friends in Jerusalem who ask "when will you recognise the states of Israel?"

Pope John Paul II

Plain and simple.

Roman

Forgive me, Karol. I know, sometimes I can be a little appraisive--

Pope John Paul II

That day, when you stood on the back of the Nazi truck, a gun at your back. [tearfully] You gave me the gift of your courage, and I will never forget it.
[they embrace]

Pope John Paul II

Your advice?

You're a pope who cannot help his nature. You will tell the truth, and I will support you.

Welcome home, Father Karol. Holiness, your people are in the streets waiting to greet you.

Pope John Paul II

The American's want to know if the Vatican has a secure line. A secure line, what is - what is that?
[Dziwisz shrugs, meaning he has no idea]

Pope John Paul II

My primary task is to lead the church into a new millennium. A world without war, a world of greater social justice. A world where Christian's are unified, and to help me accomplish this. My dear friend, Cardinal Ratzinger. I wish to appoint you Prefect for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Holiness, I am deeply honoured. But I have many commitments in Germany.

Pope John Paul II

You know my fondness for Poland. How much I wish to remain in Kraków. But sometimes God calls us to faraway places.

Pope John Paul II

And so, we decided to work together, to do our best to make that dream come true.

And part of that dream is Poland.

Pope John Paul II

I must return.

In these times, Holiness, that can be difficult. Perhaps unwise.

Pope John Paul II

The Communists have imposed Martial law, while less is rested. I must go back to keep the dialogue open! To prevent bloodshed!

We care about your blood! There are unconfirmed reports that the man who shot you, was hired by the Communist party of Bulgaria.

Pope John Paul II

I must speak with Wałęsa.

I will arrange it, Holiness. But it will be unofficial. [smiles]

Pope John Paul II

Thank you very much. [laughs]

I don't know what to do.

Pope John Paul II

You must fight. You must call by name: what is good, what is evil. And you must fight for your freedom.

Do they think you'd say something like that?

Pope John Paul II

You must be tough. You must be very tough. But you cannot hate and you must not kill.

We all have such anger for these Communists. They have hurt so many friends, ruined families.

Pope John Paul II

I know. I also know with God's love, one day this will end and then we must find ways to forgive. [pause] Forgiveness is God's might.

Pope John Paul II

Stanislaw, Stanislaw. [Dziwisz walks over to him. He points] Do you remember?

Yes, Holiness. Yes, I do.

Do you feel up to it?

Pope John Paul II

I must.

If you don't, they will understand.

Pope John Paul II

I will speak to them.
[Dziwisz holds his hand]

Roman

Uncle Karol.

Pope John Paul II

I am too old to be an uncle.

Roman

God bless you for all you have done on this earth.
Quotes about Pope John Paul II (miniseries)[edit]

Karol Wojtyła

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Tell me, my son.

Karol Wojtyła

I - I no longer know... what to do, how to feel, how to respond. I feel... I have such anger in my heart, Father...

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Anger is not a sin, to feel outrage in the face of evil is only normal. The more important question is, how do you express it?

Karol Wojtyła

I've begun to wonder, if I should take up arms.