-Were there twelve dishes at the table?
-Yes, always. Nuns were taking care of this. There was borsch, dumplings for the borsch, carp. There were salads, and of course sweets. Those were always beautiful, exceptional evening. Being at the table with John Paul II – and not only on Christmas Eve, however, at that evening in a special way. – you could feel the presence of Christ. There were always friends of the Holy Father from Krakow. Their presence made the Pope more cheerful than usually, he smiled more often, as he felt very natural as among family members.
-Does Archbishop remember their last Christmas Eve together? Was it any different from the other ones?
-No, it was not different. It was the same as usually. The Holy Father was still quite well. Invited guests were among us. We were singing Christmas Carols there were twelve dishes, and then the Christmas Midnight Mass.
-St. Peter’s Basilica was full. As usually, there were not enough tickets. The crowds at the St. Peter’s Square were looking at the large screen and were listening to the increasingly weak voice of the older Pope. His secretary could not understand from where the strength in his voice was coming. John Paul II was preparing to the Christmas Midnight Mass in a private chapel. He was praying as before every holy Mass. Strengthened by God, he was going to the crowds and talked about the newborn Christ. After the Midnight Mass, he symbolically laid the Baby in a crib in the manger placed at the side of St. Peter’s Basilica. For all Catholics, and especially for Poles, the Christmas are very sentimental. The Savior comes into the world, brings hope and great joy. It is a religious meaning, but there is also a tradition that the Holy Father started to love. Christmas tree, crib, and Christmas Carol singing. All this filled him. Like all of us, with the inner peace.
With the permission of Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki – “He liked Tuesdays the most”
‘M’ Publishing House, Krakow 2008
