Young Karol Wojtyła quotes from Pope John Paul II

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.

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

Karol Wojtyła

A permit? Work at what, father?

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.

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

Karol Wojtyła

[giving a confession, tearfully] 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.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

You're the alter boy, from Wadowice.

Karol Wojtyła

Yes. Karol Wojtyła, excellency.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

I remember. You wanted to be an actor.

Karol Wojtyła

Yes, excellency.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

And now?

Karol Wojtyła

And now a great evil has occupied our country. They treat us like animals, they murder Jews, they... [noticing a German soldier. Quietly] They shoot children.

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Do not fear the men who can kill your body. Fear him who can destroy your soul. This is what our Lord tells us.

Karol Wojtyła

[short pause] 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

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

Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha

Wojtyła? [Karol turns] Caution.

What do you know about cutting stones?

Karol Wojtyła

It's what they permit me to do.

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.

By breaking rocks?

Karol Wojtyła

No, of course not.

Karol Wojtyła

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

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?

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--

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.

Roman

[being taken away by the Germans] 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!

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

[to Cardinal Sapieha] It's just what we need, another intellectual priest.

Karol Wojtyła

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

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

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.

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

If you wish to survive, you have to understand.

Karol Wojtyła

Yes. Thank you, excellency.

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

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

[dying] 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."

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

That is what they say.

Karol Wojtyła

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

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

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.

Your eminence, I - I am needed in Poland. I have so much to do, and there's so many people count on my... What must I do?

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

Do you remember Quo Vadis? Peter was fleeing Rome and he came across Jesus, who was going the other way, and he asked him--

"Domine, quo vadis?"

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

"Lord, where are you going?" And our Lord replied.

"Eo Romam iterum crucifigi."

Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński

"I am returning to Rome to be crucified again." If you should be elected. I beg you to accept... For Poland.