Cold War foes assist Pope John Paul to sainthood

Polish anti-communist leader Lech Walesa and the general who faced him across the barricades have been asked to testify in late Pope John Paul's sainthood cause, Polish media reported yesterday.

Mr Walesa, a shipyard electrician, helped found the Solidarity trade union during 1980 protests that shook the foundations of the communist system. General Wojciech Jaruzelski's government fought back and imposed martial law in December 1981.

Witnesses in the process of beatification - the first step on the road to sainthood - are sworn to secrecy. Mr Walesa declined to comment on private Radio Zet on whether he had been called as a witness.

Daily Rzeczpospolita reported that General Jaruzelski would also be asked to testify.

"How did you know about that?" the paper quoted Gen. Jaruzelski as saying when asked about the case. He could not be reached for comment yesterday and the Vatican nunciature declined to comment, citing the principle of secrecy.

A miracle - usually the full healing of a person that the medical community cannot explain scientifically - must be attributed to John Paul's intercession with God before he can be beatified. A second miracle is required for sainthood.

The moustachioed Mr Walesa and Gen. Jaruzelski, known for his trademark dark sunglasses, both met Pope John Paul several times during his papacy.

The Polish-born Pontiff, whom many compatriots credit with helping them throw off the yoke of communism, died in April 2005 and his successor Pope Benedict waived church rules to allow the beatification process to start five years early.