John Paul II’s favorite gingerbread is now at the KUL Library. It sits among exhibits from Fr. Prof. Karol Wojtyła’s years teaching there. This display adds a human touch. Curators showcase the future pope’s culinary tastes. Visitors can even bake his gingerbread from the original recipe. On October 12, Poland celebrates Papal Day, a holiday honoring the legacy and teachings of John Paul II.
A Slice of History
The gingerbread in the case is no accident. While in Lublin, Karol Wojtyła loved Maria Wal’s gingerbread. She was the former head cook at the rectorate of the Catholic University of Lublin. The pastry became so popular that after Wojtyła became pope, it was sent to the Vatican.
The exhibition “Our Professor – Pope of Hope” is open on the Library’s fourth floor in Lublin.
Simple Tastes, Big Flavors
John Paul II valued simplicity in food. In Poland, he ate modestly. His favorite? Potatoes with sour milk—a dish he called his great treat.
As pope, he said: “To understand the culture of a country, one must also eat what its people eat.” He embraced local dishes wherever he went. In Italy, he enjoyed spaghetti with tomato sauce, roasted veal, and minestrone.
Sweets were his greatest weakness. He loved cheesecake, apple pie, and the famous kremówka cream cake. Maria Wal’s gingerbread also held a special place. Coffee was part of his daily routine, both in the morning and in the afternoon.
Daily Life at the Vatican Table
Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, in Testimony, remembers that even at the Vatican, like in Kraków, John Paul II lived modestly. He owned little and sought nothing for himself. The cardinal notes, „As pope, he was rich, but never kept a penny for himself.”
Polish Sisters of the Sacred Heart served in his apartments, preparing simple daily meals: pasta, meat with vegetables, and water. In the evenings, they made soup and fish. Polish cuisine featured only on special occasions, when the sisters prepared borscht or other soups, the well-known cutlet with potatoes and salad, and traditional Polish cakes.
A Memory That Endures
John Paul II’s modesty, simplicity, and openness continue to inspire many. This enduring legacy is reflected in this year’s 25th Papal Day theme: “St. John Paul II: Prophet of Hope.”
The holiday is celebrated across Poland and in Polish communities abroad. On October 12, the Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia Foundation will hold its annual scholarship fundraiser in support of talented but underprivileged youth from small towns.
Maria Wal’s Gingerbread – Professor Wojtyła’s Favorite
The original recipe, published in Dziennik Wschodni by journalist Waldemar Sulisz, was recovered by the KUL curators. It reads: “Maria, what was the gingerbread like? – Shall I give the recipe? – Please.
– We need 10 eggs, 350 g sugar, 100 g butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons caramel, 1 kg flour, 0.5 liters heavy cream, 0.5 kg buckwheat honey, 25 g baking soda, and gingerbread spice. Boil the honey with butter and olive oil. Beat the yolks with sugar for 20 minutes. Slowly pour the cooled honey into the yolks, then add the cream. Mix the baking soda into the sifted flour, fold in the beaten egg whites, knead the dough, then add 2 tablespoons of caramel and the gingerbread spice. Bake for 1 hour at 150°C (300°F).”
It is difficult to say whether the secret was in the buckwheat honey or the care with which it was baked. Certainly, this taste stayed with John Paul II, becoming part of the story of a pope who cherished simplicity and valued genuine, heartfelt hospitality.
Monika Stojowska / KUL
Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II / Family News Service