Pope Francis defends Wojtyla: “Offensive allegations about him”

“Certainly interpreting the sentiments of the faithful from all over the world, I address a grateful thought to the memory of St. John Paul IIthese days the subject of offensive and unfounded allegations”. He said it Pope francesco at the Regina Coeli, applauded by the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. The reference is to the words of recent days by Peter OrlandiEmanuela’s brother, referring to Karol Wojtyla (“sometimes he went out in the evening and went around with two of his Polish friends. According to some, he certainly didn’t go to bless houses”).

Bergoglio’s clear stance comes in the aftermath of the clash between the Vatican Promoter of Justice, Alessandro Diddiand precisely the brother of Emanuela, who disappeared 40 years ago in circumstances that have never been clarified and in whose case the Pope himself has reopened the investigation.

Then in his speech today Pope Francis pointed his finger at war which “sows death in a gruesome way”. The Pontiff sent a greeting to those who “especially in the East” celebrate Easter today, with a thought for both the Russians and the Ukrainians. “In stark contrast to the Easter message”, he added, “wars continue to sow death in gruesome ways”. So “let us pray for their victims and so that the world no longer experiences the dismay of death at human hands but the amazement of life” which comes from God.