It’s a story related by an author whose name simply will not come to mind at the moment, about what passed between the good bishop and JPII when he arrived for his “ad limina” – it made me chuckle as I had heard stories before as to how those blue eyes from Poland could turn to glacial ice when irked…
According to the tale, Weakland had been in the news for a variety of “public statements” which were considered “unflattering” to JPII and Rome. As the bishops at the papal chapel were processing in to hear Mass there, the pope paused at the door, and greeted each one with a line or two, when Weakland came up, the pope simply stared and stared and stared some more – the good bishoop obviously began to squirm a bit–let’s face it you don’t walk away from the pope-----the other bishops at this point began to sense a “drama” about to unfold, when finally JPII put his hand on his shoulder and said “welcome, brother”/ The point had been made, without a word being said…JPII whatta guy!