Polish nun reveals Papal punishment

London, England - A Polish nun who worked in the private papal apartments has disclosed that Pope John Paul II put himself through bodily penance as "remorse for his sins." Sister Sobodka said, “We would hear it - we were in the next room at Castel Gandolfo. You could hear the sound of the blows when he flagellated himself. He did it when he was still capable of moving on his own.” 

The flagellation (whipping) was also confirmed by a former papal secretary, Bishop Emery Kabongo. “He would punish himself and in particular just before he ordained bishops and priests. Before passing on the sacraments he wanted to prepare himself." 

This is all part of a Vatican investigation by officials from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints as part of the process that could lead to sainthood for the late Pope. The Vatican refused comment saying, “The investigation and documentation is still secret and as such we can make no comment on it until the final report is published.”