I met him for the first time a few months after his election as Pope in the former building of the Vatican Printing House. He wanted to visit our workplace. I was already the technical director at that time. I remember when he came with his secretary, Father Stanisław, we talked very kindly. At one point I said to him: “Holy Father, I would like to show you something.” He became interested and immediately followed me and I showed him a print of the first page of L’Osservatore Romano from October 16th, the day of his election as Pope. I said proudly: “The first copy of the newspaper was published at a record pace – only twelve minutes after the result of the conclave was announced!” And, I smiled. And, he looked, opened his eyes wide, and said: “It only took twelve minutes for you to print this? Oh dear, it’s very fast, I hope my pontificate will last a little longer!” From the very beginning he was witty, straightforward… just disarming.
Twelve minutes – an absolute record! And, yet there were no cell phones, text messages, or social media back then. I had to be clever. I sent all my people to St. Peter’s Square and to the Apostolic Palace to listen diligently to who became the Pope. In the printing hall I left only those who operated the machines. Thanks to this, I immediately knew what the situation was and immediately gave the right biographical note to print.
Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi “It happened in the Vatican”
Znak Publishing House. Kraków 2020
pages: 62 – 63
