October 29 marked 35 years since John Paul II's visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mentorella. It was the first official trip of the new Pope from the Vatican, on the fourteenth day after the inauguration of his pontificate. The Mass was presided over by Msgr. Paweł Ptasznik, and the homily was delivered by Fr. Adam Dźwigoń. The ceremony gathered faithful who have been connected to this place for years, pilgrims from Rome, Acilia, and surrounding towns. Residents of nearby Capranica Prenestina appeared with their mayor Francesco Colagrossi. Present were Msgr. Sławomir Nasiorowki, Fr. Grzegorz Mrówczyński, Father General Bernard Hylla CR, General Secretary Jim Gibson CR, Fr. Adam Otrębski CR, and Fr. Damian Korcz CR. A special guest of the ceremony was ninety-seven-year-old Brother Piotr Gryboś CR, who in the 1970s frequently prepared meals for Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, who was on pilgrimage to Our Lady of Grace. This place so captivated the Metropolitan of Krakow that it became one of his most beloved Marian sanctuaries. He first arrived at Mentorella during the Second Vatican Council. Many entries by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, testifying to his deep attachment to Our Lady of Grace, have been preserved in the guest books of the sanctuary. He came as a pilgrim to pray for the Church in Poland, to entrust the works of the Synods of Bishops in which he participated to the Mother of Christ, and to seek blessings on the occasion of retreats he preached for Pope Paul VI and the Roman Curia. He was also here a few days before his election to the See of Peter.