Karol Wojtyla the man

As the beatification of Pope John Paul the Second draws ever closer, people around the world are using this occasion to re-examine the life, achievements and legacy of this towering figure on the world stage. But what was Karol Wojtyla like as a person, as a man? One American who became a personal friend of the late pope was George Weigel, Catholic scholar and author of two biographies on John Paul. Weigel shares with Susy Hodges his insights into the character of Karol Wojtyla.

Weigel says he was struck by many aspects of the late pope's personality: "I would say he was the most relentlessly curious man I've ever met ... he was always wanting to know what was going on.... a man constantly looking ahead..."

And, as Weigel goes on to reveal, there was plenty of laughter during their meetings: "He had a very robust sense of humour that tended towards the ironic"... but not "the cynical" type.

Asked about how Polish John Paul was in his outlook and his habits, Weigel says "he was a great polish patriot" and "he loved to sing Polish Christmas carols to the 15th verse with his old friends over the telephone back to Poland" but above all he understood the importance of preserving his nation's culture.
Listen to his interview with Susy Hodges: