Memory and Identity : the Polish
Pontiff's role in the collapse of communism ...

What kind of a role did John Paul II attribute to himself in the demise of communism in his book "Memory and Identity , Personal Reflections", published shortly before his death in 2005 ? Was it really a front-line role ?


The chief organizer of almost all of this Polish Pontiff's journeys abroad, Jesuit Cardinal Roberto Tucci read the book and comments how : ..." It is ridiculous to think that it was the pope to have caused the collapse of communism with his own hands ..".


The cardinal also highlights how despite the fact that both Gorbacev and Jaruzelski had stressed the Polish Pontiff's role in the collapse of this regime , the Holy Father himself denied having been so instrumental in the process. Rather attributing importance to: " the insufficiency of the socio-economic system ...the role of the Trade Union "Solidarnosc" Movement ...".


In this feature Cardinal Tucci also explains how in his opinion this Roman Pontiff's roots and past history played into the historical process of the time, sharing with us the words of another Pole, Cardinal Wyszynski ...


Listen to this programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick::