Please note that no birthday parties were organized in the Papal apartments. There were birthday dinners with closest coworkers. John Paul II sometimes invited the Secretary of State and bishops from the various congregations. The nuns did not bake a special birthday cake. Traditionally, there was some fruitcake. Also, modest, although symbolic were name-days. John Paul II had a habit to invite Cardinals in retirement, those in their eighties, for a name-day dinner. There were usually fifteen or sixteen Cardinals with us. It was a great joy for them that the Pope remembers them and that they could be together. They began the meeting with a prayer in the chapel. Then, there was a dinner and long, long conversations at the table. At the end, again there was a prayer.
- And, what did they talk about?
- Usually, they were recalling memories from the past. The Holy Father was joyfully recalling various synods, religious congresses, but also common friends. It was always very nice, cheerful. They were joking about different stories and each other. It was nice to listen. They felt so good in their company.
- But, it was also quite serious.
- They also talked about what is happening in the Church, about the problems of the world. I remember the Holy Father thanking Cardinal Poggi, who was once a nuncio to Poland, for his support for the approval of the Pontifical Theological Academy in Kraków.
- And, were there gifts?
-Rather not.
With the permission of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki –“He liked Tuesdays the most”
M Publishing House, Krakow 2008
