Today is the anniversary of the solemn inauguration of the Pontificate of Pope St John Paul II.
Here’s is a good way to celebrate that anniversary.
I’ve heard this story before and have zero doubt about its veracity. I can only add, “there but for the grace of God go I”.
Pope John Paul II & the Beggar Priest??
A Priest from New York went to Rome for an audience with Pope John Paul ll. Whilst in Rome, before his meeting he decided to go to a church to pray. As he walked through the door he saw a beggar sitting on the steps, which is not uncommon,… pic.twitter.com/m4BWB38Js5
— ? ??? ? (@SecretFire79) October 22, 2025
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I think the story, for as quaint as it appears, is apocryphal. And I hope it is.
There’s no identity of the priest given. If being a homeless guy gives him street cred, then he’d be open about it and clergy in Rome would know his identity. Does anyone?
The reason I hope this is not founded in reality is based on the utter disregard for how grace works in nature. If he had not maintained his life of grace and dedication to prayer whilst on the street , it would be a serious injustice to the man to set him up for failure without allowing him time for reconversion before being let loose in apostolate.
If he had learned habits of sin living in the street (not a stretch) and not overcome them overnight, there’s a very likely possibility of sacrilege in his administration of sacraments.
Theology calls it “tempting God”, when the nature grace is supposed to use as a foundation is uncared for properly and one purports to go about the work of God without proper preparation and dispositions.
I’ve heard this story before. Not sure of its veracity, but it sounds in character with JPII.
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Another story about him, though, gives me pause. It’s just as arguable (I don’t know any names or specific locations) but is quite different, theologically.
A couple legally adopted a Jewish baby, orphaned by the Holocaust. They took her to (then) father Karol Wojty?a to be baptized. He found out the baby had come from a Jewish family and refused to baptize her, telling the Catholic family who had legally adopted her that she should be raised as a Jew, and not baptized. He advised they give her up to a Jewish family and sever the adoption.
Whether they complied, I don’t know… Whether this (oft-repeated) story is true, I don’t know. But it’s unsettling. Why wouldn’t you baptize a baby into the Catholic Church and instead send them to hell? I don’t understand why this story has been repeated so many times with such admiration. It’s horrifying to me.