Today some recent news from Poland!

The buyer paid PLN 400 thousand for the watch belonging to John Paul II (Papież Jan Paweł II). Charity auction (aukcja charytatywna) of watches belonging to famous people, organised by watchmaker company Strojny, took place on Sunday in the Juliusz Slowacki Theatre in Kraków.

The Pope’s watch (zegarek Papieża), handmade in a German workshop, was commissioned by the Knights of the Order of Malta for the 80th birthday of Pope John Paul II. The watch does not have hands but a small pearl that shows the moving passage of time. A gold coin minted to commemorate his birthday was used for the clock face.

For the collectors, the Pope’s watch is an absolutely unique item. It was given to Kraków in early 2003, along with a photograph signed by the Pope. At the express request of Pope John Paul II, the profit from its sale will go to benefit the St. Teresa’s School for the blind children in Rabka. The facility is run by the Society for the Blind and the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters, Servants of the Cross.

The auction winner (zwycięzca aukcji)  wishes to remain anonymous (anonimowy). The buyer did not say what he or she intends to do with the Pope’s watch.

Sisters running the primary school and gymnasium in Rabka said that the money will be used to complete the major renovation of the facility.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)