I also remember when the Americans arrived. President George Bush Sr. was very much affected by the meetings with the Pope. He was deeply moved. When I accompanied him once in the elevator after an audience, I saw how impressed he was. Then, between the second floor and the Courtyard of St. Damascus, I received from the President of the United States a copy of the medal that he had previously given to the Holy Father. I keep it at home in a display case, among other memorabilia from the years spent at the Pope’s side. We, the elevator workers, were lucky. Often there was a relationship between us and those whom we accompanied on the way to the meeting with John Paul II. Sometimes we familiarized them a bit with the majesty of these chambers. A few words, a simple gesture, encouraged many of them.
The appearance of the palace made most of the guests stunned. As soon as I opened the elevator – I was the one who decided at what point to press the button so that the door would open – I liked to observe the expression on people’s faces, their first reactions. At the sight of Raphael’s Loggia, some stood dumbfounded. They admired the works of art decorating the walls and vaults. After all, these are the most valuable works in the world! And, all this solemn procession in costumes from past eras: officers of the Swiss Guard, gentiluomini in tailcoats… Many leaders seemed lost as they began their march through the palace corridors. They often did not know whether to stand on the left or on the right. It is the Prefect of the Papal Household who accompanies them who usually indicates what and how. And, they only were looking around and could not get out of admiration.
Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi “It happened in the Vatican”
Znak Publishing House. Kraków 2020
Pages: 46 – 47
