After a recent trip to Florence to visit our youngest, who is studying abroad, my husband, Dennis, and I took a bullet train down to Rome in order to attend the Papal Audience the next morning in St. Peter’s Square. We arrived in the Eternal City in time to grab lunch at a favorite spot, La Pilotta, just outside the Vatican walls, and headed to the Bronze Doors to pick up our tickets. Although we’ve done that before, this year it was a new experience. The security lines wound around for blocks and took hours. We wondered if it was even worth it to give up one of only two afternoons in Rome to wait in line. But we carried on in hopes of a first experience with Pope Leo XIV.
The next morning, tickets in hand, we queued up at 7 a.m., the line to get through security for the 10 a.m. audience already snaking through the street and around the corner. When we were finally allowed to pass through security and ask officials and the occasional Swiss Guard for directions toward the seats marked by our neon yellow tickets, we were surprised to be directed across to the other side of the piazza and, eventually, forward and forward and forward until we were practically at the platform where the pope would sit hours later. I’m sure there was a look of confusion on our faces as we continued moving forward and finally had a security detail look at a list and find Dennis’ name there. We’ve attended numerous papal audiences, papal Masses and papal visits with both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, and this was definitely new terrain for us. We were directed to the second row of seating with a clear view of the pope’s chair under crystal clear blue skies on this chilly February morning. We sat and waited and wondered if we would be lucky enough to see the pope close up or maybe even stick our hand through the row of people in front of us and get to shake his hand. I tried not to hope too hard to allay what I assumed would be my eventual disappointment. I kept saying that all I wanted was the chance for a close-up picture of him, if he came to greet the VIPs seated in front of us.
After the audience, three groups of people in the row in front of us were invited to walk up to Pope Leo on the platform and meet him personally. Suddenly we wondered if it would be possible that we might be offered the same opportunity, but, as the pope descended from the platform and headed to greet folks in wheelchairs in the neighboring section, we assumed that chance had come and gone. Still, we hoped he might walk our way at some point. After taking photos with a visiting band and greeting some other people, Pope Leo returned to the platform, and we were told to stand. Shrugging off my trench coat and stuffing my purse under my seat, I tried to wrap my head around the possibility that I might actually meet Pope Leo personally. I was shaking and giddy and disbelieving right up until we were just a few feet from him and awaiting the go-ahead to move forward and introduce ourselves.
It’s sort of a blur. Thank goodness for photos taken by Vatican Media so I can look back and see that it really did happen. I took the pope’s hand and bent to kiss his ring, something I had not expected I would do but felt compelled to do. Dennis introduced himself, told him who he was and what he did (Executive Director of the New York State Catholic Conference) and that he brought the greetings of Archbishop Hicks and Cardinal Dolan and the Bishops of New York State. He introduced me and I said, I’m a Catholic writer and retreat leader, to which the pope replied: “Would I know your name?” I assumed he would not but told him my full name and mentioned that I write for, among other things, Give Us This Day. Pope Leo smiled gently and offered us blessings on our trip to Rome. We told him what an honor it was to meet him, thanked him, and walked away clutching the blessed rosary beads that had been pressed into our hands by security as we descended the platform.
Peopl
e have asked me what Pope Leo was like. Smaller than I would have expected, shy, quiet, sweet, at least based on the very brief encounter I told a friend last night that he had a very Zen vibe, which is a funny way to describe the pope but true nonetheless. He seems so at home in his own skin and in his role as leader of the Church on earth. It was such a gift to meet him, a moment I will never forget for as long as I live. I may return to Rome, and I may attend other papal audiences, but nothing will ever top or overshadow this incredible moment. Core memory unlocked. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity.
