Christmas morning was a bit fairy-tale – says Archbishop Mokrzycki. Even when it was raining. After that vigil at the side of the Holy Father, the Midnight Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and the transfer of the statue of the Child Jesus to the nativity scene, one felt that the real Bethlehem really is in each one of us. And, that something really important happened during the night. The Archbishop says that John Paul II was laughing from the morning. More than usual. It’s like he’s rejuvenated that night – he laughs. St. Peter’s Square, with this Christmas tree and crib, slightly wrapped in fog. The Holy Father looked out the window as if he wanted to check if everything was in place. The first pilgrims appeared near the basilica. Almost a perfect start. But, then comes the prose of everyday life. No reduced workload, no getting up later. Although the night was long due to Midnight Mass… Holy Mass at eight o’clock, then breakfast. It was not a solemn breakfast – recalls the Archbishop. Dinner was solemn. Although not very sumptuous, because the sisters usually prepared us for the journey. In the evening we set off to Castel Gandolfo. Sometimes they left the next day. Christmas dinner was more intimate than Christmas Eve dinner. Cardinal Deskur came, Fr Prof Styczeń – says the Archbishop. And, he jokes that there was one reason they laughed among themselves, that their Christmas dinner was reminiscent of Thanksgiving in the United States. Stanisław Dziwisz’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Helka, always brought such a big turkey – laughs Archbishop Mokrzycki. It was so big that it looked like a little piglet. I’m not kidding. It was raw meat. The sisters cooked. We laughed because it’s such an American custom. But it tasted great.
With the consent of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “Place for everyone”
Znak Publishing House, Kraków 2013.
