The preacher and the pope

The preacher and the pope | Edward E. Plowman

It was Oct. 16, 1978, in Warsaw, Poland. Communists were still in charge. But tottering on the edge of economic collapse, they were struggling to keep the lid on. People of faith and their churches remained under heavy restrictions. Yet defiant Catholic Poland had the highest church attendance in the entire world, with the possible exception of Ireland. For many, going to church was at once a religious and political statement.

Two events that day etched it in my memory. It was the final day of evangelist Billy Graham's historic 10-day preaching tour across the country. He had met with Catholic leaders, lectured at a seminary, and preached in four cathedrals as well as in Protestant venues. In Krakow in southern Poland, he'd been scheduled to have lunch with Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. But the luncheon had to be called off when Cardinal Wojtyla suddenly was called back to Rome. As a cardinal, he had to help elect a new pope following the shockingly short reign of John Paul I. The pope had died just 34 days after succeeding Paul VI. Cardinal Wojtyla relayed regrets to Rev. Graham and expressed hope they could meet sometime later on.