The Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square appeared in 1982, that is, in the fourth year of the Polish pontificate. The first came from Italy, the next from Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia. In 1997, the Christmas tree came from Poland, specifically from Księżówka in Zakopane. It was very tall, so slender – recalls the Archbishop. In the Vatican, it was joked that it was just like Cardinal Macharski, who was famous for his slenderness. There was also a Czech, Romanian and Croatian tree. The Archbishop mentions that the handing over of the tree was very solemn. First, a meeting with a delegation of a given country in the Vatican, an audience with a Christmas wafer – he says. Then, in the afternoon a celebration on the St. Peter’s square. Usually in mid-December it happened. Either the Holy Father or one of the Cardinals lit the lights on the Christmas tree. John Paul II liked this moment very much. “And, there was light” – the Archbishop says with a smile. He mentions that a few weeks earlier, the Holy Father also liked to be at the time of putting up the tree. He liked to watch it being dressed. It was a great joy for him – he says. And, that evening, when the tree flashed with a thousand lights, he was somehow more cheerful. This impressed him. From the window he had a beautiful view, which, one might say, heralded the coming of the Lord.
With the consent of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “A place for everyone”
Znak Publishing House, Kraków 2013.
