Saturday was the day I was looking forward to all month. It was
a day where I could take part in the celebration of Pope Benedict
XVI’s visit to New York. I couldn’t wait because I felt this would
be something special that I would always remember.
As a 21 year old Catholic, there are not many opportunities to
see so many people around the same age worshiping together.
Attending this youth rally showed me how many people just like me,
at least 25,000, share the same faith. I felt honored to have been
chosen to take part in this event.
Starting off the day early, 7:15 a.m., on a bus at St. John’s
University on a Saturday morning, was a part of the experience that
22 members of the St. John’s community shared that day. The bus
ride ended about an hour and a half later where we met in a parking
lot only to wait to be brought to the seminary. Then came the long
hours in the hot sun and dirt where 25,000 youths waited for His
Holiness to arrive. The St. John’s crew laid out blankets and tried
to keep from getting trampled by others trying to take over our
very coveted spot right next to the press. We listened to the
entertainment and tried to keep from getting sun burned, but our
efforts failed, we were pink within hours.
By 3 p.m. the food and water ran out and everyone started
getting a little restless. Sometime between 4:30 - 5 p.m., the Pope
finally arrived. He could be seen on the big screens on the
stage. The entire crowd jumped up and cheered waiving their
white and gold handkerchiefs in the air, despite the fact that
everyone knew the Pope was inside probably could not hear us. With
every move that Pope Benedict made, the crowd cheered. We had the
feeling of being in the presence of the holiest man on earth. It
didn’t matter how long we waited or how hot and hungry we were, our
full attention was given to Pope Benedict XVI.
The crowd watched as he made his way in to the chapel where he
blessed every disabled person and child who came to see him. I
watched as each parent of a disable child broke out into tears as
the Pope touch their child. I saw how much they believed. Without
saying a word, you could just see that these parents believed that
their child was given something special because they had been
touched by the Pope.
Now for the long awaited moment when Pope Benedict came outside
and on stage to address the 25,000 people waiting for him. When he
finally made it to the stage in his “Pope Mobile,” you can hear
cheering for at least 10 minutes. The entire crowd was jumping up
and down, screaming, waving whatever cloth they had in their hands.
I stepped back and thought, almost all these people will never
actually meet the Pope, including myself, we’ll never get to shake
his hand or even tell him our names, and yet everyone felt blessed
to be a part of this moment.
The Pope spoke and it was silent. He spoke soft and clear, the
silence was broken with the Pope’s mention of Jesus Christ being
the Ultimate truth. Then several times with more cheers there after
as the Pope spoke his inspiring words to strengthen the faith of
the youth in attendance.
Through the sunburn, heat, waiting in line, and any other
struggles all of us may have faced on Saturday, it was all worth
it. Being in the presence of the Pope was inspiring. The Pope is
the most important human figure in our faith. It was amazing to be
a part of this day and to be united in prayer and faith with so
many proving how much faith is still alive despite the hardships. I
will never forget how it felt to be in the Pope’s presence and I
know it will strengthen my faith. I will be forever grateful
for this opportunity.