Easter was celebrated this past weekend, and as in previous years, St. Peter's Square in Rome was once again adorned with a sea of Dutch flowers. This time, special care was taken to ensure that the journey from greenhouse to Rome was as sustainable as possible.
On Easter Sunday, Gert-Jan Jungerius of Monarch Flowers, floral designer Piet van der Burg, chrysanthemum grower Teun van der Lugt, the team from Van der Slot Transport, and many volunteers were featured in the NPO2 television program Flowers for the Pope.
Just one day later, Pope Francis passed away. This year's Easter celebration and the floral tribute at St. Peter's Square turned out to be his final public Easter appearance. As a result, the Dutch floriculture sector's contribution has, unintentionally, taken on a deeply symbolic significance.
Charles Lansdorp met Pope Francis a few years ago.
According to Lansdorp, the moment is hard to grasp. "Easter went ahead with beautiful decorations. The flowers were displayed magnificently—better than ever. There was even an audience with the Pope. And now the square has been cleared, and the bells are tolling. It's surreal."
Charles has many fond memories of Pope Francis. "He was a truly special Pope—approachable and a strong advocate for events focused on children and the elderly. On numerous occasions, such as the World Day for Grandparents in 2014 and World Day of the Roman Catholic Church in July, I had the honor of contributing Dutch flowers to the events."
Will the Pope's passing affect future collaboration? "I don't think so. Easter continues every year. In fact, next year marks 40 years of collaboration with the Vatican."
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Charles Lansdorp
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