I will never forget Ocotber 16, 2024; it was a day of grace that I waited for with longing.
When someone tells you that you will meet the Holy Father, the successor of Peter, you naturally begin to prepare and to think about what you will say to the Pope, how the encounter will transpire, and so on.
We took the crown
That was the day that I, together with Bishop Ignazio Sann and Father Marcelo Cervi (Rector of the Schoenstatt Shrine in Belmonte, Italy)—both members of the Secular Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests—received the invitation to participate in a general audience of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. It was be a special audience with the so-called “baciamano,” i.e. the oppportunity to kiss the hand of the Holy Father at the end of the audience.
We accepted the invitation and we took with us the crown that will be used to crown the Blessed Mother as Queen Mother of the Church on June 9, 2025 in the Shrine at Belmonte, Italy. Immediately after the audience in which Pope Francis spoke about the presence and effectiveness of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, he began to greet those present—first the bishops and then the other people.
A blessed and exciting encounter
The three of us had rehearsed everything we wanted to say. But when the pope greeted us, the excitement was so great that we only said half of what we had planned. Bishop Sanna told the Holy Father that next year we intend to crown the Mother of the Church with the crown and he introduced us as members of the Schoenstatt Movemen with the name of the respective secular institute to which we belong.
I held the crown in my hand, then handed it to the Pope and asked him if we could take a photo with him. He immediately said yes. Then I continued, “Would you please hold the crown?” He said yes and streched out his hands and held it. Then we posed for a photo. I gave him two little cards that I brought with me and a small crown with the symbol two rings. He took everything, blessed he crown and then tried to give it back to me. I said to him, “It’s for you, Holy Father!” He replied in astonishment: “For me?” “Yes, for you,” I smiled happily.
The proximity of the Pope
It was just a brief moment, but we felt as if we had been with the Pope for hours. I was very impressed by the simplicity with which he spoke to us, his attentiveness, listening to us and just being with us, without haste, like someone in the family. Pope Francis listened to us with great interest and looked us in the eyes. He did this with each person whom he greeted–with the dedication of a shepherd.
I experienced meeting a faithful and caring pastor. The moment was so simple and uncomplicated, that he gave the impression he would have known us for a long time. Yes, indeed, we go with the Pope. Schoenstatt is for the Church.
A sign of God’s love
For me, this encounter, the proximity to the Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ here on earth, the conversation with him, without fear, was a sign of God’s deep love. The Pope radiates serenity, peace and simplicity, spontaneously transferring it to the person with whom he is speaking.
Now a few days after that special encounter, I still feel the effects of grace, and I hope they will last for a long time to come.