Pope John Paul II, the child that should have been aborted

In a new book published in Poland, Milena Kindziuk describes how John Paul II's mother was advised to get an abortion, writes Catholic News Agency based on an interview with the author with the Italian news agency ACI Stampa.

In the autumn of 1919, Emilia Wojtyła discovered that she was expecting a baby. She already had a son, 13-year-old Edmund. Her second daughter had died shortly after birth, so Emilia was afraid she could not have more children. In the second month of pregnancy, she went to Dr Jan Moskała, a well-known gynaecologist and obstetrician, who had shocking news. Not only was it questionable whether her baby would be born healthy, but according to him there was also a high chance that she would not survive the delivery.

Emilia "had to choose between her own life and that of the baby she was carrying, but her deep faith did not allow Emilia to choose abortion," Kindziuk says in the interview with ACI Stampa. "Deep in her heart, she had to be ready to make this sacrifice for the baby she was carrying," she adds.

Jewish doctor

Emilia and Karol Wojtyla decided that their conceived baby was to be born and started looking for another doctor. They chose Dr Samuel Taub, a Jewish doctor, who confirmed a risk of complications during childbirth, including Emilia's death. However, he did not suggest an abortion, Kindziuk says.

After a bad pregnancy – Emilia spent most of her time lying down – she gave birth to Karol on 18 May 1920. The delivery took place at home in the presence of a midwife.

Father Karol Wojtyła was not present, as was customary at the time. Together with his son Edmund he had gone out to participate in the prayer of the Divine Office in the parish church across the street, where they sang the Litany of Loreto. "We know from the messages that Emilia asked the midwife to open the window: she wanted the first sound her son could hear to be a song in honour of Mary." Emilia Wojtyla gave birth to her son "listening to the song of the Litany of Loreto," Kindziuk said.

Sainthood

Pope John Paul himself was familiar with his history. His secretary Stanislaw Dziwisz said that he once told her that he was born to the litany in honour of the mother of God. She added that he was elected pope at the same time of the day that he was born.

In May, the sainthood causes of St. John Paul II's parents were formally opened in Poland. Karol, a Polish Army lieutenant, and Emilia, a schoolteacher, were married in Krakow on 10 February 1906. The Catholic couple gave birth to three children: Edmund, Olga, and Karol.