Outside in the lovely Vatican gardens, sitting on a wooden bench, the retired Pope Benedict XVI was enjoying the cool evening breeze with some fascinating company. On the left was Chico, his beloved cat, playing with the hem of his white cassock. To the right was his dear friend Peter Seewald who was glad to be at a distance and safe from the cat’s antics.
“It is going to be a much quieter Christmas for you this year, now that you have retired,” said Peter.
“Oh yes, yes, it’s going to be a much simple affair. Just me, the dear sisters from Memores Domini who care for me and my long time friend and assistant Georg and, of course, Teddy.”
“Teddy? Who is Teddy?” asked Peter. He knew most, if not all, of Pope’s friends and family but he had never heard of a Teddy before.
“Teddy. My teddy bear.” The pope’s reply confused Peter.
“You must be wondering why a 90-year-old man is celebrating Christmas with a toy,” the pope chuckled.
“I am, I am,” responded Peter, laughing too.
“You could say it was my first Christmas miracle, first among many.” and the pope began to share his favourite christmas memory.
“I was just a wee little kid. My sister Maria, brother George and I were woken up very early one morning. We wore the clothes Mama laid out for us and soon we were all walking in the freezing cold outside. It was still very dark. I didn’t know what was happening but I just followed mama and papa.
“We entered our town church. Suddenly, the darkness turned to light. The cold frigid breeze turned into warm, fragrant air. I looked around, and it was the most beautiful sight. The towering, stone-clad church was lit with sweet-smelling candles. Our priests were dressed in majestic white vestments. It was the First Sunday of Advent and as was tradition in our little German town, advent began with the ‘liturgy of the angels’.
“As a kid, I watched with awe. A new kind of joy creeped into my heart and stayed with me even after the mass. We walked out of the church and the sun was finally out, which meant the school bells would ring soon. Maria and George began running towards our home with me right behind them.
“Our tracks halted abruptly. A whispered ‘wow’ escaped our mouths. The shop window across our house was shining in the winter sun. We walked closer and closer to it. Soon our noses were smooshed onto the glass window. It was decorated with festive evergreen branches, tinsels, gold foil, and in between lay many, many toys.
“One toy caught my eye instantly. It was a bear with the most friendly smile. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. That was until we heard Mama calling us for breakfast and we had to end our window gazing abruptly.
“Everyday since, it became our favourite thing to do. I would hobble along with my sister on one side and my brother on the other. We would stand before the shop window and enjoy the beautiful Christmas decorations and toys. It was as if I was visiting a dear friend during playtime.
“The shop lady noticed our little ritual. One day she invited us in and we walked in with sheer excitement. She introduced us to the bear and told us his name was Teddy. Oh I so wanted to hold little teddy in my arms. But I was a very shy kid. So I along with my siblings were just happy to see him from a distance. It was enough to satisfy our curiosity and make us happy.
“That is until one day, my friend Teddy was no longer there. Our faces immediately drooped. I on the other hand couldn’t stop sobbing. The little teddy bear was gone. Maria and George tried to console me but the tears wouldn’t stop flowing. Disappointed, we walked back home.
“Christmas was just days away and there was plenty of distraction for our grieving hearts. Papa took us to the riverside to collect stones, moss, juniper berries and pine branches for the nativity crib. George and I found marvellous volcanic stones, few were smooth, few had sharp corners and some even had tiny holes in them. We used the grey stones to create a hilly area and added green pine branches and juniper berries in between. The moss was scattered around to look like fresh grass for the little sheeps to rest on. We were mighty pleased with our handiwork.
“My brother and sister also wrote a letter to baby Jesus. It was a tradition in our house,you see, to ask Baby Jesus for special blessings and favours for christmas. But I was too small and didn’t know how to write yet. While I watched them write the letter, I told Baby Jesus quietly in my heart to take care of Teddy wherever he is.
“On Christmas eve, after lunch, mom sent us kids for a walk. It was too snowy for a walk but it was perfect weather for sledding. Either way she really wanted us out of the house. And we were happy to go sledding in the fresh snow. When we returned, Papa was home too and he gathered us all in the kitchen. It was time for family prayers. Everyone knelt, leaning their arms on the chair. My arms wouldn’t reach the chair, so I knelt and rested the top of my head on it. Papa led the rosary while we prayed with our eyes closed.
“The rosary ended, and before we could even open our eyes, we heard bells ringing. We rushed towards the sound. Mama was in the living room, with a bell in her hand and a beautiful spruce tree behind her with candles all around. The tree was decorated with baubles, tinsel, angel’s hair, as well as stars, hearts and comets.
“But what was underneath the tree caught my eye immediately. The same familiar smile. Along with gifts and plates of cookies, fruit cake, was my teddy, my gift from Baby Jesus.
“George and Maria were overjoyed to see teddy too and forgot about their own gifts. They too received lovely presents from Baby Jesus, some beautiful knitted winter clothing for both, along with other small gifts.
“The festivities weren’t over yet. Papa began to tell us the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke, as was the tradition in our family. Storytime always ended with everyone singing Christmas carols. I didn’t know these songs yet so I cuddled next to mom with teddy in my arms and enjoyed the melodious rhythm that filled the room.
“Ever since, Teddy and the crib made of volcanic stones have always been part of my Christmas festivities, even after becoming Pope and moving to Italy.”
Peter was deeply moved by this account. “I cannot believe you still have teddy,” he muttered, amazed how a man as extraordinary and intelligent as the pope can have such a childlike faith.
Without missing a beat, the pope replied, “How could I part with my first gift from Baby Jesus!”
Carol Ferrao is a contributor to The Catholic Beat
