We spent another great day in the snow in February 1992, when we went to Campo Imperatore, near Gran Sasso. The director of the lift booked a ski slope for the Holy Father, which was called “Monte Cristo”, and naturally gave us a snowmobile.
The Pope was really pleased with this trip, which was fully successful. Other employees of the Inspectorate were also with us: Piero Marzulli, Giuseppe Arcidiacono and Salvatore Giavante. All of them many years ago have completed ski courses reserved for special police services.
Many other trips I could describe, for example a trip to Monte Terminillo, but of course it is impossible to do it. That is why I wanted to focus on these two, because of the interesting names of the slopes on which the Holy Father rode: “Ski slope of lovers” and “Monte Cristo”. The first name perfectly reflects the love of John Paul II for mountains, skiing and nature, while the second expresses the symbolic bond between hiking, climbing the mountain and approaching Christ. This special bond is very characteristic of the spirituality of John Paul II.
Enrico Marinelli * “The Pope and his General”
“Rafael” Publishing House
