Posted on 04/01/2005 12:01:24 AM PST by Prince Charles
Boyhood friend holds good thought for pontiff
LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS: Karol Hagenhuber attended school with the man who would be pope
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Friday, April 1, 2005 12:57 AM CST
Times Staff Report
LAKES OF THE FOUR SEASONS | Karol Hagenhuber, 85, of Lakes of the Four Seasons, did not have to seek out news on the pope's illness, the news came to him.
The boyhood friend of Karol Wojtylya, who later became Pope John Paul II, found his phone ringing Thursday afternoon.
"Channel 9, WGN called me first," said Hagenhuber, who has been quoted in news articles about his relationship with the Roman Catholic leader. "They told me 'Did I hear about the Pope?' I knew they put the tube in his nose. They told me he has a high fever and an infection of the urinary tract. So I put the TV on and found he had the Last Rites."
While he said the news did upset him, he was quick to point out that the Last Rites are not given solely in cases of imminent death.
"It doesn't mean it's that bad," Hagenhuber said. "This is what happens in the church. They want to make sure if something happens that he is right with God." He added that if anyone is right with God, it is the man he remembers by the nickname "Lolec." As boys, the two attended the same high school, and bonded because they shared the same first name, Karol.
Hagenhuber immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1949, but kept in touch with his boyhood friend through the years and watched as he rose through the church to his ultimate election to pope.
That communication has included personal visits with the pope in the United States and Europe and cards exchanged at Christmas and on other significant days.
Now Hagenhuber keeps a good thought for his friend and hopes that he will once again bounce back from his medical setback.
"(John Paul II) is not going to quit. That's the way he is. I know he's not going to give up," Hagenhuber said. "I wish him all the best and that he will recover from his sickness. But it's up to God. If he's going to recall him, there is nothing we can do about it."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.