Let Me Go to the Father's House

Book excerpt: On April 2, 2005, the world kept vigil at the bedside of John Paul II and together mourned his passing.A man of suffering--the child who lost his parents; the youth who endured war, Nazi persecution, and the subsequent communist regime; the youthful Pope who was shot in an attempt on his life; the elderly Pope whose Parkinson's prompted numerous trips to Gemelli hospital--Wojtyla was always constantly attentive to the sick and suffering, who knew they would find a place of listening and understanding in his heart.Acquainted with sorrow throughout his life, John Paul II demonstrated the value of redemptive suffering to a world keeping vigil during his final hours. Now, his private secretary and personal physician, and others nearest him during his last days, share their own memories of that precious time: a story of courage, gratitude and love.Stanislaw Dziwisz is today the archbishop of Krakow, after having dedicated the past 27 years to John Paul II as his secretary. Czeslaw Drazek, SJ, is the publisher of the Polish edition of L?Osservatore Romano.Renato Buzzonetti was John Paul II's personal physician.Angelo Comastri is the President of the Fabbrica di San Peitro and was the Vicar General of Vatican City under John Paul II. He has published numerous books in spirituality.