John XXIII gave a rosary to Khrushchev's daughter

On leaving Bulgaria in 1934, Archbishop Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII, had promised: "If a Slav ever knocks on my door, whether his is Catholic or not, I will receive him as a friend."

One day, a Slav arrived at the Roman airport of Fiumicino, and asked to see Pope John XXIII. The answer was immediate: "Let him come!"

The meeting was set for March 7. After the general audience, the Pope called in his visitors, who were Mr. Adjoubei, and his wife, Rada, Khrushchev's daughter (1). He received them in his library and invited them to sit down... After talking about the saints of Russia and its beautiful liturgy, John XXIII took a rosary from his table and said:

"Madam, this is for you. My staff told me that I should give coins or stamps to a non-Catholic princess, but I prefer giving you a rosary because we priests, in addition to the biblical prayer of the psalms, also have this popular form of prayer. For me, who am the Pope, it is fifteen windows - the fifteen mysteries - through which I look at world events in the light of the Lord. I say a rosary in the morning, another in the early afternoon, and another in the evening. You see, I made a great impression when I told the journalists that in the fifth joyful mystery - "He was listening to them and asking them questions" - I pray for them... I made an impression on people when I said that in the third joyful mystery - the birth of Jesus - I pray for all the babies who were born or will be born within 24 hours, because, whether they are Catholic or not, they will receive the Pope's prayers on their behalf at they enter this life. When I pray the third mystery, I will also remember your children, Madam."

Holding the rosary in her hands, Mrs. Adjoubei replied, "Thank you, Holy Father! I am so grateful to you! I will tell my children..." The Pope smiled as he said: "I know the names of your boys... the third is called Yan, John, like me.... When you get home, please give Yan a special hug."

Le Rosaire pour l'Église, issue # 14 – 1973

(1) Nikita Khrushchev was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1958 to 1964