Each year a different Papal Christmas card was sent not only to the closest ones. Inside there was a personal letter from the Holy Father – says Archbishop Mokrzycki. – Short, but always personal. You can just take a look at the cards which parents of the Archbishop were receiving from the Pope. It was usually a reply to my parents’ wishes – explains the Archbishop. A Christmas cared with a replica of some image depicting a scene related to the birth of Jesus Christ. Inside a motto and wishes. He was writing to my parents: “Dear Mieciu’s Parents” or “Parents of our Father Mieciu.” He used to call me “Mieciu.” Inside the cared there was always a message of a great joy, which the incarnation brings to us. There were a few words about Mother of God. And, about the Christmas Wafer which John Paul II was including to each card and by which he was spiritually sharing with each person to whom he was sending the wishes. As the Archbishop is saying there could be around one thousand cards. Among them, the official ones, for example to presidents of various countries and those less official – to closed ones and friends. He wanted to remember about each one. Each card he was signing himself – says Archbishop Mokrzycki. -He was writing to all friends from Krakow. I know that he cared about this. And, in this Advent’s waiting, in his thoughts, he was with people whom he knew, liked, loved. With those whom he was recalling. The cards were beautiful. This was a beautiful Papal habit. The Holy Father was sending a lot of cards, but he was receiving hundreds more or even more than that. His second secretary was not even estimating how much cards he was receiving. He is saying that there has to be tens of thousnads. Cards to John Paul II, who was loved by the entire word, were sent to Vatican from all parts of the globe. The most beautiful ones were those from children – says Archbishop Mokrzycki with a smile. – with those drawing made by children. It was very touching. We always were showing them to the Holy Father, so he would know that children remember him. He loved them all so much. It is hard to believe, but each who sent to the Holy Father wishes was receiving a response. The secretariat was responsible for this. To reply to each card, we needed to ask additional nuns – laughs the Archbishop. – otherwise, there was no chance to replay to each of them.
With the permission of Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki – “A place for everybody”
“Znak” Publishing House, Krakow 2013
