Father Leon Kołodziejski (Retired Parish Priest of the Wolverhampton & Cannock Polish Community) said ‘I was very pleased to hear this news, that we have lived to see our compatriot, Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyła, raised to the altars, through the merits of his whole life, and his teachings which he preached so that he could reach everyone, even non-believers. He was and is valued highly and now he will be honoured as a saint.’

Jerzy Głebocki from Cannock says that for him Pope John Paul II was already a saint during his life.

‘My first thoughts when I heard the news that Pope John Paul II was being beatified on the 1st May were that so far as I think myself and a lot of people were concerned he was a saint anyway in his own lifetime. He was an inspiration to people of all denominations, and so it’s hardly surprising looking at his life and what he did that the beautification has come so soon after his death.’

Aniela Ławrynowicz said:

‘The Polish people very much appreciate this because firstly he was the first pope for a long time who was a non-Italian, and secondly the Pope, Karol Wojtyła, was a really nice man. He spoke very nicely and he had a great love of the people. It didn’t matter what their colour was, it didn’t matter if they were rich or poor. He talked with people who wanted help, and, sometimes with the small children he would pick them up and cuddle them.’

Krystyna Grzybek was struck by the Pope’s holiness and his devotion to God.

‘I think that John Paul II was an amazing and unique man. He loved everybody and wanted to reach everybody. He specially was interested in young people, poor people and old and sick people. Whenever he went, and he went with pilgrimages to many countries, he always tried to speak in their own native language telling them about God’s Love for them. The most amazing thing was his concentration when he was praying. There could be thousands of people around him and looking at him and one had an impression that he was always in the presence of God or his mother – nothing else mattered. I believe that to achieve such a state you have to be a holy man. It’s why I’m so very happy to hear that his beatification will take place on 1 May this year.’

Mike Antoszkiewicz is overwhelmed at the news:

‘Thoroughly overjoyed. I remember 30 years ago when he became Pope I was overwhelmed with that, but now – it’s absolutely fantastic!’