For 22 years he worked side by side with John Paul II. As a close friend, Joaquin Navarro-Valls shared plenty of unforgettable moments with the Polish Pope, but one of the things he remembers  most is the way he lived his every day life.

John Paul II’s press secretary: His biggest miracle was his day to day life.

For 22 years he worked side by side with John Paul II. As a close friend, Joaquin Navarro-Valls shared plenty of unforgettable moments with the Polish Pope, but one of the things he remembers  most is the way he lived his every day life.

JOAQUÍN NAVARRO-VALLS
Former Vatican Spokesperson
“He had a great sense of humor. He was always telling jokes and he would ask us to do the same. It’s a different dimension of sanctity, because it’s based on every day things. When I’m asked, ‘did you ever see him do a miracle?’ I say yes. The one miracle that no one has done a book on, is John Paul II’s every day life. The way he worked, how he used his time and the way he would joke around. He had an incredible sense of humor.”

As the Vatican’s press secretary, he traveled along with John Paul II in 128 trips, including the Pope’s visit to Cuba. They also celebrated the Jubilee Year in 2000. So they were a team, but above all else they were friends. In fact Navarro-Valls says that in a way he still feels close to John Paul II.

JOAQUÍN NAVARRO-VALLS
Former Vatican Spokesperson
“I’ve been asked, do you miss him? I say no, no, I don’t. People can’t believe it. They say, what do you mean? You were always with him. Well, yes that is true. When it came to work, we had to meet for about two or three hours. But now, I can feel connected to him 24 hours a day. So, in that sense, no I don’t miss him.”

It’s not every day that someone sees his former boss be declared a saint. On Sunday April 27th, during the canonization ceremony, he says he already knows what he will say to his friend, former boss and future saint.

JOAQUÍN NAVARRO-VALLS
Former Vatican Spokesperson
“On the day of the ceremony, I will tell him: John Paul II: thank you, thank you for turning your life into a masterpiece with the help of God.”

Even though it will be a historic day in the Church, the day will be all that more special for those who personally knew the Polish Pope and who shared their day to day life with the future saint.