The Vincentian Marian Youth has a special friend: The Pope

December 1, 2004 is a date that each one of us will carry in our hearts always, above all for the words of an ailing Pope who finds immense joy in living, “ I bless all the Vincentian Marian Youth…” , but, let us proceed in order.

It was one November morning, with gray skies hanging overhead and rain pouring continuously when I and the other members of the National Council received a text message that says, “The Holy Father will receive us on December 1.” It was like some sort of a sun then.

The first thing that came to my mind was, “Sr. Alena made it!” She, with her great humility, organized everything and made a wish come true! Yet, what is more beautiful is that she wanted to share this joy to every one of us!

Neither the National Strike in Italy on November 30, nor the downpour which woke us up that Wednesday morning, stopped us from this adventure. Indeed, at 8:30 we walked through the doors of the spectacular Nervi Room joyfully yet with a feeling of seeming unbelief of what had just occured to us. The room was filled with an air of joyful anticipation. Maria Agnese, National President of the Marian Association (JMV of Italy,) had the look of someone with mixed emotions; She, together with Fr. Bruno Gonella CM, National Priest Advisor, and Sr. Alena Jurkiova, DC, Sister Advisor of the group from Rome, represented the JMV before the Holy Father.

The activity started at 10:30 a.m. When the Pope entered the threshold, the Nervi Room was filled with joy: hands applauded, flags and scarves (ours were blue) were waved, and greetings were shouted, eyes shone in brilliance and later... we heard that one voice, his voice that is always warm and welcoming.

The catechesis was about the first part of Psalm 71. It speaks about responsibility especially among persons who are given some sort of authority or power. “What is most important is that you always feel inspired by God and that you do your work with justice and honesty, promoting peace in the search for truth and for Christ always.” The Pope revealed to us an aspect of his that is very Vincentian, inviting us to take care of the weaker ones and those who need us most; to open our eyes and hearts and to become “witnesses to proclaim the coming of Christ.”

Then, he translated it in French, English, Spanish, Tunisian and Polish taking into account the list of groups present. The Pope demonstrated his love for everyone, greeting in the same languages. It was both beautiful and meaningful to listen to this man, one who has a lot of desire to meet people but has to be transported in a chair. He is a man who wishes to be humble and to serve, yet was obliged to depend on someone to drink a glass of water. What can he have, what is to be given to a man like this? It was enough to observe his gaze, those eyes that seem to speak of love, to live love, to be love…

Each time a name of a group which is present is called, the reply was either a chant, an applause, a “John Paul II, the whole world loves you,” the Pope stopped the lecture, then very, very slowly he would look up, search and with a wave of a hand, his typical wave, he acknowledged them.

One very touching moment was when a Polish group sang he gazed downward. In my opinion, that was a moment that showed us his humility, his weakness and fragility. But, later he looked up at us again and those eyes smiled… Indeed, God sustains us in each moment of our life!

After reciting the “Our Father” (“everything that you bring with you will be blessed, like the all the persons in your hearts, and in a special way the children and the sick,”) Maria Agnese, Fr. Bruno and Sr. Alena, climbed the platform and knelt before this small man who appeared fragile and in pain, yet is capable of feeling. When they went down, their faces were radiant, especially the eyes of Maria Agnese which were still wet. They gave the Pope a JMV scarf, la “tessera” (a card with the JMV prayers) and 3,000 Miraculous Medals to be sent to the places of mission.

It was difficult to have to leave the Nervi Room, to have to go down from that Mount Tabor... but the Pope entrusted us (all of the JMV) a mission: “To proclaim Christ, to proclaim the Messiah.”

Michy