Woman defends friendship with Pope John Paul II as book is published

TO him, she was “My Dear Dusia” and he signed his letters “Br” — short for brother.

She was one of a handful of people by his bedside when he died and visited him in hospital when he survived an assassination attempt.

Pope John Paul II had a woman friend with whom he shared spiritual thoughts in letters that spanned the decades. Now she is defending her recent book of correspondence with the Pope against criticism from church officials that she “exaggerated” her friendship with the late pontiff and could delay his beatification.