– What was the first meeting between Father Mieczysław Mokrzycki and John Paul II after moving to the Apostolic Palace? Did the Pope personally hand the priest the nomination for secretary?
– No, no. It is not done that the Pope calls and hands out the document. I was hired as an employee of the Secretariat of State.
I remember the first meeting very well. The Sacred Heart nuns, who worked in the immediate vicinity of the Pope, said that the Holy Father would return after 7 p.m. from the Basilica of St. Sabina. Together we waited at the elevator. When the Pope appeared, Fr. Stanisław who was standing next to the Holy Father introduced me: “Holy Father, this is the new secretary.” John Paul II replied: “Welcome, we will see each other at dinner!” And, so this is how my greatest period of life began.
– Did the priest have jitters at the beginning?
Huge one. I barely ate something at this dinner. I was thinking if I could do it. I thought the first few weeks would be a probation period. I did not want to let down the trust. The Pope noticed my nervousness and immediately relieved the tension. His words, smile, kindness made me feel very good at the table, like at home. From that moment until the last moments of the life of the Holy Father, I have always had easy, pleasant contact with him.
Secretary of two Popes – conversation with Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki.
Wydawnictwo Literackie Publishing House
