John Paul II

Karol (M), Father, Mother, Jewish friend, friends(2), Nazis (2), Archbishop, Young people (2), communists(2), Pope John paul I, Cardinals (2), assassin

(Enter Karol, Mom, dad)

There once was a boy named Karol.  Karol loved his mom and dad very much, and since they were polish, his parents would always say “Karol, eat your perogies!”  And Karol would always say “Dobre”, which means good in polish.  When Karol was only 9, his mom died.  Karol and his father were very sad.

(exit mom, dad, enter Jewish friend, friends)

Karol loved sports.  He especially loved skiing with his friends, including a jewish friend, and in the summers they would go swimming together. When they became old enough for University, Karol and his friends studied theatre and poetry.  Karol would recite Shakespeare, saying dramatically “To be, or not to be, that is the question!”

(Enter Nazis)

Then one day Nazis came marching in.  The audience ominously said “Da da daaaaaaa.” 

Karol said "I did nazi that coming!"

The Nazis clicked their boots, did the ‘Heil Hitler’ salute, and said “This school is now closed. Also, you, Jew-  you’re going to jail!” And the Nazis dragged the Jew off to jail, as the audience booed.

(exit nazis, Jew)

After the Nazis left, Karol and his friends met and one friend said “What will we do?”

Another friend said “I am going to join the resistance and fight against the Nazis!”

But Karol said “I am going to fight against evil with good! I am going to be a priest!”

(exit friends, enter Archbishop)

So Karol met with the Archbishop, shaking his hand. Karol said "I want to be a priest" The archbishop looked around to make sure no Nazis were around, then whispered “Meet with me tonight!”

(Exit archbishop, enter Nazis)

So every night Karol would sneak to their secret meeting place, past the marching Nazis, while the crowd would sing the song from Mission Impossible.

Eventually the Nazis lost the war, and had to leave, hanging their heads in shame, while the crowd said “Nanananana”, and stuck their tongues out at them. 

(exit Nazis, enter Jewish friend, young people)

Karol’s Jewish friend was freed, and gave Karol a big hug. 

Karol was ordained a priest, and was very popular with young people.

(Enter communists, exit Jewish friend)

But now that the Nazis were gone communists took over!  The crowd gasped. The communists said “We’ll let your church exist, but you are not allowed to teach!”  So whenever Karol was with the young people, they would call him ‘uncle’ so that the communists would not know that he was a priest.

(exit Communists, young people, enter John Paul I, Cardinals)

Karol was very smart, and wrote lots of books. Eventually John Paul I made him the Archbishop of Krakow and a Cardinal himself!  When Pope John Paul I died, Karol met with all of the other Cardinals in a huddle called a conclave to pick the next pope.

(Exit John Paul I) 

To everyone's surprise, they picked Karol!  The crowd gasped in astonishment! Karol said “Be not afraid!”  The crowd cheered! From then on he was known as Pope John Paul II.

(Enter communists, young people, Jewish friend)

Pope John Paul II said “Love and families are good!” Everyone cheered!  He said “Communism is bad.”  The communists booed. 

(enter Assassin)

Then one day an assassin shot John Paul II. But the bullet didn’t kill him! The young people tackled the Assassin to the ground, while John Paul II was rushed to the hospital. After getting better, John Paul II visited the assassin in prison and said “I forgive you.”  And they had a great big hug!

(exit assassin)

Everyone started chanting “J-P-2!  We love you!”  The communists said “stop saying that!”  But the crowd chanted it again.  

John Paul II said “J-P-2-  he loves you!”  And the crowd cheered like mad.  

Finally the communists said “He’s too popular!  No one will listen to us!”  and they left Poland to go back home.  Everyone cheered as Communists abandoned Poland.

(Exit communists)

Eventually John Paul II got old.  As an old man, his hands would shake, he had trouble walking, he speech was slurred, and he drooled.  But he did not retire, because he wanted people to see that old and sick people still have value. Eventually, he died.  He was so popular that at his funeral everyone yelled “Subito Santo” which means Saint Now!  He was canonized only 9 years later!  

St John Paul II the Great-  Pray for us!