WARSAW, POLAND – On April 2, 2005, a powerful spiritual community began to form in Poland as the world mourned the passing of St. John Paul II. Filmmaker Mariusz Pilis captured this moment in his new documentary “21:37,” which focuses on the experiences of average Polish people.
Pilis’ goal was to evoke the universal sense of community felt during that time, by telling simple and relatable stories. The film showcases scenes from April 2005, including a translator guide, Magdalena Hodalska, recalling how crowds spontaneously gathered in front of Krakow’s curia window, where John Paul spoke to his compatriots.
The documentary also features stories of ordinary people who found comfort and unity during this time, such as Agnieszka and Jacek Lazowski, who got married on the evening of April 2, 2005. Thousands of young couples attended their wedding mass, and even though they never met John Paul II in person, they felt his presence.
Father Robert Skrzypczak, an academic chaplain at St. Anne’s Church in Warsaw, shared that April 2005 was a time when people came to confession in large numbers, moved by the pope’s life and death. The documentary aims to convey to the younger generation how significant John Paul II was for Poles.
Pilis’ goal is not only to remember but also to awaken emotions and create a sense of community. “When someone like that passes away, we feel isolated, as if we have lost something,” he said. “We look for people around us who feel the same – and we found them in our brothers and sisters.”
The documentary serves as a reminder of Poland’s national unity on that day, 20 years ago, and how it continues to shape the country’s spiritual community today.
Source: https://catholicreview.org/poland-remembers-the-hour-of-the-death-of-beloved-pope-as-unifying-moment