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 It was a great joy to be part of the general audience of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI. On Tuesday evening, a group of 200 members from Comunità Cenacolo headed out of Saluzzo on a journey to Vatican City. We began our pilgrimage by praying the rosary entrusting ourselves into the hands of Mary. We passed time on the bus by practicing two songs that were prepared at the last minute. The first song was to celebrate the Pope’s arrival in St. Peter’s square and the second was to give thanks to John Paul II at the foot of his tomb.
We were warmly welcomed in Rome with a hot sun and clear blue skies. We found our way to the Vatican and took our places. While waiting for the Pope’s arrival we united our group with song and prayer. A contagious joy filled the air. For many of us, it was our first time visiting Rome. The desire to see the Holy Father in person and to be able to express to him our gratitude was immense. The people around us were looking at us with stupor. They were delighted to be in the midst of our colorful and lively presence. Our brightly colored t-shirts, bandanas and big hands with multi-lingual phrases were all worn to say: We are happy to be Christians and to belong to the family of the Catholic Church.
Then the moment came. Pope Benedict’s arrival on the pope mobile made us burst with a joy that could not be contained, our shouts of enthusiasm accompanied his passage as he made way to greet the thousands of pilgrims who came to hear and see him.
Pope Benedict came to a stop under the canopy where he greeted all the pilgrims in various languages. Before starting his usual Wednesday catechism he mentioned the diverse groups that were present, calling attention to us of Comunità Cenacolo as well.
The audience ended with the Pater Noster and his solemn blessing. The Holy Father then began with personal greetings first to the Cardinals, Bishops and the few people gathered at the Sagrato and then to all the pilgrims remaining in St. Peter’s Square. Here we lived other important and intense moments for our Community. The first was when Mother Elvira was able to personally greet the Pope. With her hands, tied firmly to the hands of Peter’s successor, were our hands. In her eyes, filled with joy and gratitude, was our filial devotion and sincere thanks for what he does for us and the Holy Catholic Church.
The Holy Father got back onto the pope mobile and passed in front of the sick and disabled who were waiting in the first row. There he embraced and kissed Chiara and Omar, our little “cenacolini”, children of Simona and Daniele. And finally, upon leaving St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict passed once again in front of our group. We saluted him with joyous song until we saw him and the pope mobile disappear into the walls of the Vatican.
In the meantime, we also were blessed by the presence of our beloved retired bishop, Monsignor Diego Bona, who wanted to share in this intense and profound moment as well.
When all was over we were guided by S.E.R. Monsignor Angelo Comastri, Pastor of St. Peter’s Cathedral. He led us to the undergrounds of the Cathedral where the tombs of the previous popes lie. We gathered in front of the tomb of the John Paul II, got down on our knees and sang a song of gratitude. It was a brief moment but very important for all of us because for us he is “The” Pope, the one who made us feel important, children of a Church that loves the youth and that believes in them. He called us the “morning star” at Tor Vergata, during the GMG of the Jubilee. He gave words of encouragement and support to our Community during a Wednesday’s general audience, when in February of 2000 we went on pilgrimage with family and friends. To John Paul II, we sang our small but huge “Thank You!” because we still feel him alive and present in our walk; a thanks that continued to the upper basilica where we were able to recite The Creed in front of the altar that was built on the tomb of St. Peter.
We concluded these joyful and profound moments by praying the rosary as we walked ‘around St. Peter’s Square, followed by festive song and celebration of the Holy Mass in the Church of the German State in the Vatican. Mother Elvira closed our day by sharing the awe that she lived during her encounter with the Holy Father and the joy she felt to have us present with her in that moment. . . separated by some 10 meters or so, but there with her with all our heart.
And now that we are back home, united with our fraternities, we better appreciate all that we experienced in those short but eventful hours. For certain it will be engrained in our minds as moments of sincere friendship, family life, ties to the Community, children of the Holy Father and of the Church.
Most Holy Mary, Mother of the Church and our protector, fill us with the gifts that your Son wanted to generously give us during this pilgrimage.
To you, we entrust everything and everyone, with great gratitude and with great desire that all human beings may experience the feeling of being sons and daughters loved by God through the Church.
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