This year marks a special moment for me. It has been 40 years since I earned the title of Master Florist, following my training as a certified floral designer. A milestone that brings back many memories, but one in particular stands out.
1986 was also the year I started working with Nic and Charles van der Voort. That same year, Van der Voort received a unique and honorable assignment: to create the floral decorations for St. Peter’s Square in Rome for Easter, during the Urbi et Orbi blessing. From the very beginning, I was involved as an arranger. Later, I took on the role of Head Arranger for this special international project.
How Did the Flowers for the Pope Begin?
I am often asked how this tradition started. The story goes back to 1985, when Pope John Paul II visited the Netherlands and was deeply impressed by the flowers he saw there.
Later that year, on November 3, during the beatification of Titus Brandsma in Rome, Nic van der Voort created a floral decoration for the occasion. It was during that moment that the idea was born to decorate St. Peter’s Square with Dutch flowers for Easter.
I can still hear Nic saying it: “Paul, we are going to fill the Vatican with flowers.” And that is how a beautiful tradition began.
In those early years, the project was supported by sponsors from the Dutch floriculture sector. In 2002, Nic was succeeded by his brother Charles, and in 2015, I became Head Arranger of this remarkable project.
Why Did the Pope Thank the Netherlands for the Flowers?
“Thank You for the Flowers.” One of the most memorable moments each year was hearing the Pope acknowledge the flowers.
Pope John Paul II, standing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, would deliver the Urbi et Orbi Easter blessing and thank the Netherlands for the beautiful flowers. From 2006 onward, Pope Benedict XVI continued this tradition with the same words.
Pope Francis chose to deliver his Easter message entirely in Italian, including the phrase “thank you for the beautiful flowers from the Netherlands.” In a way, this made the message even stronger. The international press translated the entire speech, and with it, those words reached the world.
A Moment of Recognition - What Does the Bene Merenti Award Mean?
I feel incredibly proud to have been part of this project from the very beginning. In 2015, I received the Papal honor “Bene Merenti” from Pope Francis. A moment I will never forget, and a recognition that meant a great deal to me personally.
It felt like a crown on many years of dedication and teamwork in Rome.
Knowing When to Stop
After the COVID pandemic, the situation changed. The original sponsors from the Dutch floriculture sector were no longer able to support the project, and working with new sponsors did not provide the level of collaboration needed to maintain the quality we had always aimed for.
Without sufficient financial support to uphold that standard, I decided in 2022 to step away, after 35 years. I chose to stop at a moment I felt proud of.
Since my final edition, Pope Francis has no longer spoken the words “thank you for the flowers.”
Looking Back With Gratitude
I look back with deep gratitude. Not only for the recognition, but for the many unique moments I was able to experience together with my team in Rome.
Moments of pressure, beauty, silence, and connection. Moments when flowers became more than mere decoration.
And now and then, I still hear it.
“Thank you for the beautiful flowers from the Netherlands.”
For more about the project, visit www.pauldeckers.nl and explore the section ‘The Vatican’.
