Guess who came for lunch?

Meeting the sisters who work
in the kitchen

Word is out ... and lots of photos too .... of an unexpected guest for lunch at our St Saviour's Monastery last Monday. None other than the pope himself. He was scheduled to have lunch at the Notre Dame Centre after a meeting with the Prime Minister .... but suddenly asked to have lunch across the road at St Saviour's instead. Don't know what happened to the prepared lunch at Notre Dame though ... he probably asked the food to be given to the poor. And St Saviour's was not prepared for a papal guest for lunch. He had to eat what we all eat ... spaghetti and a piece of chicken. Nothing more. But I'm sure that's what he wanted ... something homely and unpretentious. But the main reason I think he wanted lunch with us was because he wanted to thank the friars for their 800 year service in the Holyland. His speech after lunch was more or less: if not for the friars' service these 800 years in the Holyland, there would have been no more christian presence, no more churches and sanctuaries. It was a very nice gesture of thanks from the pope. We all appreciated that.  After all he never had a chance to meet or speak with the friars all the 2 days of his visit.

Meeting old Fr Mancini who 50 yrs
ago, welcomed Pope Paul VI

Meeting the friars

Farewell at the courtyard

Thanking the friars

Thanking the cooks

With Fr. General (L) and the
Custos (R)