Toni Guarino, Student
I remember being blessed enough to be a part of the papal audience
in Rome several times while studying abroad. The first time that I
attended was with our entire theology class, and I will never
forget when Pope Benedict XVI recognized the students of St. John's
University. It was such an amazing experience, which I am thankful
for everyday. Also, being in Rome for the Spring 07 study abroad
program, my fellow students and several visiting family members
were lucky enough to attend the Papal Easter Mass. Words cannot
describe the amount of joy we all felt. It was a truly
breath-taking mass, and we were so fortunate to take part in it. As
Pope Benedict XVI visits New York, my thoughts and prayers are with
him.
Joseph Sciame, Vice President, Office of
Community Relations
I had the good fortune of seeing Pope Benedict last November 2006
at a papal audience in St. Peter's Square, and fortunate to be but
three feet away. He was radiant in the sunlight, happy and smiled
abundantly to the crowds, as he blessed us all from an arm away. At
the same time, I recalled that day with fond memories, being in the
same square on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 as I knelt before the
late, and now, Servant of God Pope John Paul II. His eyes, blue as
one could ever have imagined, looked right into mine as he said:
"God bless you and the members of the Sons and Daughters of Italy,"
as this was a special tour that I had led with 100 from America as
the national president of teh OSIA. Before that, on one of his
(Pope John Paul) other earlier visits to NY at St. Patrick's, I had
the good fortune, once again, to be there at the invitation of the
then Rector, and could see him from the special seats to the right
of the main altar. He walked by, knelt and prayed as intensely as
one could possibly imagine. All I could think of was that this was
certainly a most holy man of God. The visit of the Holy Father in
America is indeed an honor for all in this great country of ours.
He is the Vicar of Christ, the Christ who is the Son of God and our
spiritual leader. For that all, this visit is but a special grace.
I am looking forward to Pope Benedict's visit, to watch it all and
be a part as I have been invited to two of the events. Our present
Holy Father is not merely the intellectual that he has been
characterized to be and is, solely, but he has entered his role on
the world stage as a great communicator. All we need to do is:
listen!