The Rev. Marek B. Bozek,* 31, a Catholic priest in Springfield, Mo., grew up in Communist Poland and met the pope several times, most recently on Jan. 6.*
I was 9 years old when I saw and heard John Paul II in person, during a visit to Poland. I was a small child, excitedly following with my eyes the tiny white figure on a distant stage, hearing words that were officially forbidden. The crowd was chanting “Solidarity,” right after “Long live the pope.” With every fiber of my being, I somehow knew I was a part of something bigger, and everybody around me realized as well that with this man in white, we are a force that nothing can stop.
In early June of 1991, after the Solidarity movement was victorious, I met the pope for the first time face-to-face when I was 17. He visited my hometown. I was an altar boy during the papal Mass. He spoke about the link between freedom and truthfulness. He encouraged us to remain true to our faith. I knew then, to be a truly free person, I had to serve others as a priest.
A few years later, already as a seminarian preparing for the priesthood, I visited Rome in July 1995. Our group was invited then to join the Holy Father. As he was greeting each one of us, he exchanged a few words with each seminarian. I told him I was from the town of Olsztyn, and he said, “Oh, I was there just four years ago!” I answered, “Yes, Holy Father, and this is why I am here today as a seminarian.”
