Lucky 13 encounters with John Paul II

Lucky 13 encounters with John Paul II

1. Urbi at Orbi, St. Peter's Square, Easter Sunday, April 15, 1990
2. UNIV '90 get-together at Cortille San Damaso, Vatican, April 15, 1990
3. Inauguration of the Olympic Stadium, Rome, sometime June 1990 (preparation for the World Cup 1990)
4. Sunday Angelus, Castelgandolfo, sometime August 1990
5. Wednesday Audience, Aula Nervi, sometime September 1990
6. Priestly Ordinations, St. Peter's Basilica, September 1990
7. World Youth Day 1995, Manila Apostolic Nunciature
8. World Youth Day 1995, UST
9. World Youth Day 1995, Luneta Park, encounter with the youth, January 14, 1995
10. World Youth Day 1995, Luneta Park, Holy Mass, January 15, 1995
11. Audience for St. Bridgit, St. Peter's Basilica, October 4, 2002
12. Canonization of St. Josemaria Escriva, St. Peter's Square, October 6, 2002
13. Thanksgiving Mass and services on the occasion of the Canonization of St. Josemaria Escriva, St. Peter's Square, October 7, 2002

As soon as I heard news of the failing health of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, like many of us, I started to pray for him. And when finally he left us for his reward in Heaven, I started praying to him, a great intercessor for all of us in Heaven.
Together with these prayers, I began to recall the occasions when I was fortunate enough to be close to him, to be in the same venue, the same event as Pope John Paul II. I know there are more of you who have been more fortunate than me in terms of the number, proximity, and duration of encounters with this Pope, whom many have started to call John Paul the Great. Nevertheless my encounters with him, thirteen as well as I can remember, have left me with the thought that, yes, I am blessed to have had those opportunities.
All of those encounters have been memorable to say the least. What everyone has said about those occasions with the holy John Paul II are true. One is in awe.
The first time I saw that Pope in person was on Easter Sunday 1990, April 15, at his Urbi et Orbi message and blessing. I was in St. Peter's Square, my seventh day in Rome, as a participant to the UNIV Congress sponsored by ICU. I wasn't close to him at all, but close enough to feel his warmth and love for the faithful. I would have wanted to be closer, but this wasn't the time. Later, I told myself.
Later was at 5:00 pm, a special get-together that the participants of the UNIV had with the Pope. We had lined up for sometime at the area of the right columns of St Peter's Square. When the doors were opened, I remember we were hurrying up some steps that, like in many places in the Vatican, seemed endless. At the end was a courtyard, the Cortille di San Damaso. There was a small balcony at the far end, with a chair in the middle of the balcony. That was his place. We found our places (not very far from the balcony, just behind the first group of ladies. Not long after, John Paul II came out, with a red cape over his shoulders. It was just about spring, and the weather was still cold.
That get-together lasted about an hour. Chosen participants performed for the Pope and for the rest of us. I do not remember much of those except for the clown and his antics -- the same clown that we saw on Fox News Channel on Saturday, that made the Pope laugh heartily, that was UNIV 1990. My eyes were fixed on the Pope. After the presentations, the Pope spoke. I remember that he said that he had a prepared speech, but that he was not saying it but will speak what his heart wanted to tell us in that gathering. He was true to form.
I had to stay in Rome for six months as part of the preparations for the technical school (www.cite.edu.ph) the we were putting up in Cebu, through the help of the Italian Government. I had four other opportunities to be with the Pope, as if living in Rome, very close to him, was not enough.
Sometime in June, Centro ELIS Scuola Sportiva (sports school) received an invitation to the inauguration of the newly-refurbished Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Italy was hosting the 1990 World Cup of football, and renovated the Olympic Stadium for that purpose. But more than that, Pope John Paul II was to bless it. We were carrying white or yellow plastic sheets (the Vatican colors) to wave. After some formalities, the Pope entered in his open limousine, blessing the crowd and the stadium. He must have said something later, but the noise (joyful noise) from all of us was too much. Several videowalls were set up (something not many of us in the Philippines were familiar with) and these helped us see close-ups of the Pope.
In the summer, the Pope spends time at his summer residence in Castelgandolfo. It was not far-fetched that I would have to go there that summer. And so it was, one Sunday in August, a lawyer friend Mario brought two Italian-African high school students staying in the student residence at Centro ELIS (Bortot and de Coelho), and myself to pray the Angelus with the Pope and listen to his Sunday message to the pilgrims. We entered the covered courtyard (with a white polyester sheet, it seems) shortly before 12:00. At noon, the Pope came up to his window and led the Angelus. In his message, he talked about the gospel of that day, the story of Martha and Mary, and the Holy Father talked to us about being of service to others and of being humble in our endeavors.
In September, I was invited to attend the priestly ordinations at St. Peter's. John Paul had been doing annual ordinations at St. Peter's. Some friends of ELIS were to be ordained then; who will refuse an invitation like this. I was hoping against hope to receive communion from the Pope. It wasn't meant to be, but again, being with the Pope, only about 50 meters away was enough to be thankful for.
Parishes in Rome get regular invitations to the Wednesday audiences with the Pope. The Parish of San Giovanni al Collatino, the parish church close to ELIS, and under the care of priests of Opus Dei, in the Tiburtina District south of Rome Centro, were given invitations sometime in September. With my Filipino companions undergoing training at ELIS, Ben and Domeng, and our invitations secured, we went to Sala Nervi, the Paul VI Auditorium on the left of St. Peter's Square. He greeted the people in many languages, because as always there were many pilgrims (this was summer in many parts of the Western world). Later he went down the center aisle to greet the pilgrims, talk to some of them, shake hands, like any father seeing his children again. That is usually when all hell breaks loose (forgive the words)! I was near the aisle so I was a little calmer, for I know I could be very close. But when everyone started to move closer to the aisle, I had to make my move as well. I remember these German girl scouts on my right with the aisle to my left, in an instant they were at my left jostling for positions -- standing on the chairs (although we were told not to) to get a better view and a better picture. I am sorry for those that I had to nudge. I would not have been able to touch the hand of the Pope, if I were too slow. And I did. I have a picture that shows precisely that moment. The Vatican through its newspaper L'Osservatore Romano usually sends out proofs of these pictures to some photo shops in Vatican City, and anyone can select pictures and order copies of them -- it took me about an hour to find three pictures from the shop called Foto FELICI in via Scipioni, 53, and waited a couple of weeks to get them. They may also send them to your home, yes, even in the Philippines, if you are in Rome only for a short stay -- with the proper fees of course.
I digress. But then again, what can I say, I was mesmerized -- I held the Pope's hands! The feeling was awesome. There is a Hallmark thank you card that said: Thanks. I was touched by your kindness. Oh, not like if I was touched by a movie star and never washed that spot again, but touched. Well, I held the Pope, and vowed never to wash again. That kind of experience!
Shortly thereafter, I had to come home to the Philippines to start the school. I never thought that I would not see him again. Somehow, I knew there would be other occasions.
In the 1994 World Youth Day in Rome, the Vatican announced that the next World Youth Day was going to be held in the Manila. That was the chance to see the Pope again! And maybe get close to him again!
So it came, January 1995. I was with a small group of students and young professionals. We were planning to go to the airport or the Roxas Blvd area to see him pass, but decided later on to just wait for him at the Apostolic Nunciature. It was a good move. We positioned ourselves on the road opposite the Nunciature. Everyone was upbit. When he finally came, the cheers were deafening (John Paul II, we love you! Viva el Papa!). But it was a quick entry to the nunciature grounds and we were not satisfied. Someone suggested that we cheer even more. I could not remember how long we did that. Everyone believed that the Pope will come out, greet us from the balcony. Well, he did. They had set up a microphone, he spoke some words, but I do not think any of us heard what he said. The cheering was extraordinary.
The following day, we positioned ourselves near UST, not having secured any invitation to the gathering there. We saw him pass by on the Popemobile, waving to us, blessing us. We were with him in the encounter with the youth on the afternoon of Saturday, the 14th of January, and stayed on for the Holy Mass the following day, the feast of the Sto. Nino -- it was better to be there than in the Sinulog, huh?
I had to wait until 2002, on the occasion of the canonization of St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, that I will be able to visit Rome and see the Pope again.
On October 3, I left with friends for Rome. We arrived the following day. Four of us had to stay in a smaller hotel (Scott House), a lesser star, and right smack at the area of Stazione Termini, Rome's central train station. The area isn't precisely the best place to be staying in Rome, nevertheless, we realized as well that being a short walk away from the train and subway station was consolation enough (since we were not with the main group, we had to fend for ourselves, no special buses or pulmini -- their version of the v-hire, fx, and the like). Since we could not check in into our rooms at the hotel since we were early, we went to the Basilica of Saint Eugene, where the remains of then Blessed Josemaria was transferred from the central offices of Opus Dei. We decided to go to St. Peter's later in the afternoon to attend Holy Mass after we had finally checked-in. I was certain that there would be many masses in the different altars and chapels of St. Peter's Basilica.
When we reached St. Peters, we observed that the chairs were arranged, with the wide central aisle barricaded. That was unusual. I thought that probably the arrangement was related to the canonization. So we sat. I took the booklet that resembled many of the missals used in special masses in the Vatican. I realized it was not going to be a mass, but a special prayer service for St. Bridgit of Sweden. To be officiated by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. I told the guys. We stayed near the barricade. The Pope was definitely walking down that aisle. He wasn't.
At about 5:00, many more lights turned on. We readied our cameras. Near the entrance of the basilica, cameras started clicking. The Pope was coming. He was standing on a cart that was being pushed fromn both sides by Papal aides. He was slumped. Deep in prayer. He was not waving back or blessing us. Later on I thought that he could not do his usual greetings because he had to support himself. The prayer service went on. I was distracted. I was making sure my cameras were ready when the service ended, ready to click away again. When the ceremony ended, he left by another way.
On October 6, he presided over the canonization of St. Josemaria. Many have said that he was stronger that day and he led the rites serenely but full of joy. Many were doubting that he would make the rounds, considering that the ceremonies must have tired him so. But true to form, he did.
There was some confirmation of that when I saw the Italian police was making sure that the barricades along the Via della Conciliazione were secure. I was at the end, or I should say, the entrance to the Via (the farthest from the sqaure) where a little cul-de-sac was formed by barricades. That was the point he would have to make a u-turn.
He came around on an open popemobile, amidst the clapping and the cheering, and the picture snapping. Riding behind him was Arch. Stanislaw Dziwisz and Bishop Javier Echevarria, the Prelate of Opus Dei.
The following day, also at St. Peter's, His Holiness also came around after Holy Mass in Thanksgiving for the canonization of St. Josemaria was celebrated by Bishop Echevarria. I could not get close to the Pope this time, but I saw all the movements of the Pope on the video monitors that were set up in the square.
Those were my lucky 13 encounters with Pope John Paul II, the Great. For pictures: http://www.phlog.net/user/asmillan3