A memorable visit with the cardinal

It was July 1976 and my husband, John, a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, and I were at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. at a reception for a Cardinal Wojtyla.

Our next assignment was to be Warsaw, Poland but only after John would study Polish and pass a proficiency exam. The reception line snaked around the non air-conditioned hall but we were determined to meet the Cardinal.

Once we were announced to the Cardinal, without me speaking a word the Cardinal looked at me and said, “You are Polish aren’t you?”

“Why yes I am,” I replied. He continued, “We Poles can spot each other across a crowded room.” He was most personable and by just by asking a few questions knew all about my family. He concluded by saying perhaps we would meet in Warsaw.

On the return to our home in Virginia, a terrific rainstorm hit. We had left our children home and were concerned about their safety. As we arrived in the driveway, we noticed that a huge maple tree in front of our house had been struck by lightning and instead of falling on the roof of the house, it fell into the street. Someone was looking out for us!

We were in Warsaw in October 1978 and remember the day he was elected Pope and especially when he returned to Poland for the first time as the Holy Father — but those are stories for another time.

Alice Kordek

Arlington Heights