New book offers inside glimpse of John Paul II's life in Poland, Rome

Published: 2007-01-23

ROME (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II consulted with top aides about possibly resigning in 2000 and set up a "specific procedure" for papal resignation, says a new book by the pope's former secretary. The pope eventually decided that it was God's will that he stay in office, despite the illness that left him more and more debilitated, wrote Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland, the late pope's closest aide. In the book, "A Life With Karol," Cardinal Dziwisz offers an inside glimpse at key moments of Pope John Paul's life in Poland and his 26-year pontificate. The book was being published in Polish and Italian in late January. In his last will and testament, Pope John Paul strongly hinted that he had considered resignation as he prepared to turn 80 in the year 2000. Cardinal Dziwisz said the pope, in fact, decided at the time to consult on the question with his closest aides, including then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. The pope concluded that he would remain in office, saying that God had called him to the papacy and that "God will call me back, in the form that he wishes," Cardinal Dziwisz wrote.

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