Dotknięci przez świętego. Młodzi Polacy przeżywają swoje przebudzenie

Abstract

John Paul II’s death has stirred believers, non-believers, and the indifferent. It has released mutual kindness, good and love. Many people were surprised with this outburst of kindness and solidarity among people. Many asked questions: How long it would last? Was it only an isolated phenomenon? Research conducted among Warsaw’s youth allows to claim that John Paul II’s death has greatly influenced their attitudes. For about 90% of young people his death was not a neutral event. For every fourth pupil it has contributed to the deepening of existential reflections. Every fifth person examined has noticed the increase in his religiosity. For 27% of the respondents the late Pope has become a role model, and for 25% of young people John Paul II’s death meant a loss of a family member. John Paul II’s passing away has stimulated people to ask questions about the knowledge of his teaching. It turns out that for 26% of youth his teaching about love proved most important. 25% of the young pointed out to his respect for them. After John Paul II’s burial not all has returned to “its former shape.” For 20% of the respondents and their environment what has remained is the memory about the Pope in a form of prayer and remembrance. 10% of the respondents claim that people in their environment go to church more often, and some have converted to Christianity. Almost 4/5 of the respondents aims at translating the experiences they gained connected with the Pope’s death into in their lives in forms of life-long decisions. Longing for John Paul II and the feeling of sadness that he is no longer with us testify to the youth’s love for him. 33% of the respondents claim that they will always miss such a person with outstanding features of character they wished to imitate.