Trips outside Rome brought pleasant variety. Once a month, on Tuesdays.
– Mostly in the mountains?
– Mostly in the mountains of Abruzzo. Two hours’ drive from the Vatican. I did not participate in all trips, because I had a lot of work in the office. Fr. Stanisław always went. Often with the Pope went: Fr. Czesław Drążek, Jesuit, Head of the Polish edition of “L’Osservatore Romano”, current Cardinal Stanislaw Ryłko and Nuncio Archbishop Henryk Józef Nowacki. The purpose of the trips was to rest. I remember that when we arrived at the place for about an hour we talked and admired the wonderful views. Later, at the request of the Holy Father, we were leaving him alone. He prayed the Rosary, meditated biblical readings. Then we went to the designated place and ate a meal. After that, the Holy Father was listening to the books that somebody read. Sometimes we sat by the campfire. In the evening, we were returning to the Vatican.
– These were secret trips?
– Rather, yes. Although after returning several times I have heard that the Pope went outside the Vatican, in such and such a place. It turned out that not everything can be kept secret.
Secretary of two Popes – conversation with Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki.
Wydawnictwo Literackie Publishing House
