“Let (the hospital) serve!”. Pope John Paul II. Visit at the John Paul II Hospital in Krakow, 9 June 1997

This June, here in Krakow we witness two important anniversaries. First, our hospital, now called after Pope John Paul II, is already 100 years old. Secondly, 20 years have already passed since the visit on the hospital’ grounds of our great patron – Pope John Paul II, still remembered in Krakow as Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. This was beautiful sunny and hot day in June 1997 when His Holiness blessed the hospital and said simple but remarkable words – “Let serve!”. Nothing more to add as this is exactly what it is all about. In the days when words do not mean much, it is of utmost importance to realize why and for whom we work. Despite numerous and absurd externally imposed regulations, despite growing financial debts of hospitals and outpatients clinics, despite all the “smart” people who constantly talk rather than do things, despite and despite … we can go on forever. Let’s be clear if we lose this compass, no matter how skilled and educated we are, this will be the beginning of our decline. We are lucky here in Krakow as this famous quote is engraved in the hospital’ lobby but in fact it should be engraved in everybody’s mind.