In the house of the Holy Father it was beautiful; special feasts were approaching. The atmosphere was changing, the work was always pressing, but it was not related in any way to preparations which were simple, but full of love and warmth. For me, especially as a Roman, these things so full of symbolism were completely unknown. (Mentions Arturo Mari, Pope’s personal photographer) For example, during advent, four candles symbolizing the weeks leading up to Christmas. I knew nothing about it, a simple thing, but as it usually was, full of meaning, meekness, great piety. The house was prepared in simple, modest ways; always after the holy Mass there was prayer to prepare for such an expected moment, the birth of the Child Jesus. It really caused a great deal of emotion in my heart. Holy Night, the Child was born! Midnight Mass, very special, thousands of people united on the Holy Sacrifice with John Paul II to give glory to God. Naturalness, extraordinary human kindness, the presence of the Pope, all of this made us happy. When we all sat together at a simply decorated table, there was a time for an important thing – food. A very simple meal, often something from Italian cuisine or traditional Polish cuisine. The first dish, a soup called borscht, based on red beets, really excellent, or fish soup. For the second carp, fish with various additives, potatoes, mushroom sauce, vegetables, and at the end of various Polish cakes. All this was the work of the sisters, the angels of the house. Then, the climax, touching, full of love, when everyone sat at the table in the glow of candles, the Holy Father intone Christmas carols, what a moment! In truth, I can not hide; I had tears in my eyes. Touching! “Silent night”, “Oh little ones, little ones”, “Amid the night silence”, “God is born”. The time that will remain forever in my heart are not easy to express how much love there was in these moments.
Arturo Mari
With the consent of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “Place for everyone”
Znak Publishing House, Kraków 2013.
