Cardinal Cody and Friend

By James Macon Walton

In January of 1964, following my graduation from the School of Law at the University of Arkansas, I moved to Chicago to begin employment as a Claims Adjuster with Æetna Casualty. In 1965 John Cody, then Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in New Orleans, was assigned to the Archdiocese in Chicago and subsequently elevated to Cardinal in 1967.

Some time later I had a phone conversation with my father (who was then serving as the Bishop of the Louisiana Area of the Methodist Church with his office located in New Orleans). In this conversation Dad mentioned that he, in his official capacity, on occasion had had a passing contact with (the new) Cardinal Cody when, for example, they were both attending the same (inter-denominational) function in New Orleans. Dad suggested that, if I ever happened to meet Cardinal Cody in Chicago, I introduce myself as his son and that I convey to Cardinal Cody his (my father’s) greetings. Dad instructed me to be sure to address Cardinal Cody as “Your Eminence.” Years passed and I never had occasion to meet Cardinal Cody.

I married my wife, Edith, in 1976. Edie was studying for her Ph.D. in Music History at Northwestern University (in Evanston, Illinois). At Northwestern she had met and become acquainted with a fellow student, Melanie. In 1974-75 Edie was attending the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna while Melanie was studying in Łodz in Poland. During this period, first Melanie traveled to Vienna to visit Edie; then Edie traveled to visit Melanie. While visiting in Poland Edie became acquainted with a Polish family in Warsaw and established her own direct relationship with this family (parents, two daughters and their husbands). Then, and over the following years, this family arranged her (later our) accommodations and served as our guides and translators. Edie and I found these trips enjoyable and educational.

Fast forward to August of 1977. Edie and I planned a long trip to Poland during which we scheduled a ten-day bus tour to visit many locations in the country. As it happened we learned that Chicago’s Cardinal Cody was to be in Poland at the same time, also for an extended trip. Edie and I flew to Poland and, as part of the tour package, checked into the Warsaw hotel from which the bus tour was to begin. The night of our arrival we joined our fellow tour members in the lobby for a meet-and-greet. As we were socializing with these individuals we were asked if we were Polish, or of Polish descent, to which we answered that we were not. We were then asked if we spoke Polish, which we did not. Then we were asked if we were Roman Catholic, and again we acknowledged that we were not. To which one member of the group asked “Then what the Hell are you doing in Poland?”

While on our bus tour in conversation with other members of the party we noted that Cardinal Cody was, at the same time, traveling in Poland. In passing I related that my father, the Methodist Bishop in Louisiana, was acquainted with Cardinal Cody and that, through my father, I had entrée to approach and converse with the Cardinal. The reaction of the members of the tour group was a uniform “Yeah, Sure, Duh!” And that was that, until events of the next couple of days.

The next stop on our tour was Częstochowa and the monastery of Jasna Góra. It was a Feast Day, and, as part of the celebration, the Black Madonna was on display in a chapel for viewing by the pilgrims (the painting was only rarely made available to be seen by the public). Not being Roman Catholic, and not being Polish, Edie and I had never witnessed or experienced anything comparable to this pilgrimage. The crowd of people stretched as far as one could see (left photo above).

The chapel in which the painting was on display was, of course, filled with worshipers. Our tour group was kept in a side room for a period of time waiting for space to allow us to enter the chapel. While there, we met an American priest who was also waiting for the opportunity to enter the chapel. In conversation with him, he noted that he had been on staff at the monastery for two years but that this day would be his first time to view the Black Madonna.

As we waited in this side room, we became aware that remarks by two men were being broadcast on loudspeakers to the crowd outside. We heard one man speak in English, and then his words were translated into Polish. We realized that the man speaking English was none other than Cardinal Cody! This was an interesting coincidence.

The next day our trip took us to Kraków which included a tour of Wawel Castle. After visiting various rooms inside the Castle for some 45 minutes our group emerged into the main courtyard of the complex. There we came to a complete stop, and we waited for our guide to resume the tour of rooms inside the building. But we did not move. Perhaps 20 minutes passed, and we asked the tour guide why we were waiting in the courtyard. We were told that everyone present was waiting for the anticipated arrival of Cardinal Cody and his entourage for their own tour of the Castle. Edie and I did not share this motivation (after all, we could probably see Cardinal Cody on any number of occasions back home in Chicago!).

More time passed while we stood in the August mid-day heat. Our group was situated at one end of the courtyard, nearest to the driveway entrance and farthest from the entrance to the Castle itself. I noticed a number of priests and other people standing around near the Castle entrance. Somehow (by their dress or demeanor, or by overhearing their conversation), I realized that several of these priests were Americans. I decided to walk to them and to speak with them. These people were also waiting for the arrival of Cardinal Cody. I approached one priest (he stated that he was from Detroit). I spoke with him briefly. I took one of my business cards, wrote on it “Greetings from Bishop Walton from New Orleans” and gave it to the priest to pass on to Cardinal Cody after he arrived. Then I returned to my fellow travelers.

After another five or ten minutes two cars drove into the courtyard. From each of the two cars one Cardinal and various other people emerged. Our tour guide had been waiting for just this moment: she darted forward, kissed the ring of Cardinal Cody, and came back to our group. All those from the cars started toward the Castle entrance. As Cardinal Cody reached the group standing near the Castle entrance, I saw the priest from Detroit speak to him, hand him my card, and this priest motioned to where I was standing. As the other Cardinal proceeded to enter the Castle, Cardinal Cody turned toward me. I realized that he intended to speak to me, so I immediately walked to meet him. I greeted him (and, as instructed by my father, addressed him as “Your Eminence!). We spoke for a few minutes (right photo above), and then parted, Cardinal Cody going forward to enter the Castle with his companions. As I walked back to our tour group, I exaggerate only slightly to say that, with the exception of my wife, every member of our group was staring at me with open mouth!

The final chapter of this story occurred perhaps 20 minute later. Our tour group resumed its visit to the rooms inside Wawel Castle. At one point we were walking through a corridor from one room to the next. Suddenly, only some ten feet in front of us, the two Cardinals entered the same corridor from a side room. At this unexpected meeting, both they and our group stopped where we stood. After the slightest pause one woman from our group rushed forward, kissed the ring of the nearest Cardinal, and returned to our group thrilled with the completion of her goal for the day. Then, the Cardinals, and we, went our separate ways.

Truth be told, one has to be a bit sorry for this good lady. Despite her devotion and determination, in her haste she made a mistake. The ring she kissed was not that of her intended American Cardinal John Patrick Cody. Rather the ring belonged to the other Cardinal, his host, Polish Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła, the man who would later become Pope John Paul II. And she never knew it!