They celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas in a wider group, because the Holy Father liked it so much. He spent New Year’s Eve and New Year among his closest friends. He wanted only secretaries and sisters working in papal apartment attended the thanksgiving Mass in his private chapel at midnight on December 31. And, as archbishop Mokrzycki said, sometimes one of the employees of the curia was participated. They didn’t know why, but they didn’t ask either. It seemed that John Paul II wanted to experience the last moments of the old year in silence and concentration. He enjoyed this thanksgiving night very much. Because he had something to thank for – for another always difficult but good year of the pontificate and ask – for strength for the next 365 days. Nobody knows what he asked for at that midnight 2005. Apparently, it was as usual. At least that much, what loved once could see and feel. When they left the chapel, the Pope wished them, as every year, that they would stay together and that everything would be fine. They believed it would be. They prayed for that. After the Holy Mass, the Holy Father was going to his room and the secretaries were begun to celebrate.
– How did you celebrate?
– Very simple, with a glass of champagne.
With the consent of abp Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “He liked Tuesdays best” M Publisher, Krakow 2008
