Through a complex series of events, planned and unplanned, I found myself in a prime spot in St Peter’s Square today. There was a more than average chance I’d see the Holy Father up close.
Fortunately, I was with my good friend, Javier Bravo. Javier heads Regnum Christi’s communications office in Mexico. (You might say he is Mexico’s Jim Fair; in reality, I’m North America’s Javier Bravo.)
It was the Pope’s Wednesday Audience. As events wound down, the Holy Father gave his great blessing and boarded his Popemobile for a tour of the square and greeting of tens of thousands of gathered pilgrims.
He eventually returned to the steps in front of St. Peter’s and worked the line of folks in the “dignitary” seats. Javier and I were in the semi-dignitary section, meaning we wouldn’t be kissing his ring, but waving, smiling and catching a glimpse.
The working of the crowd took a long time. As a typical American, I became increasingly impatient. As a typical Mexican, Javier’s optimism about a close encounter with the Holy Father kept growing.
Even my offer to take him for cappuccino and gelato could not persuade him to leave. So we waited and ended up along the route of the Pope’s exit backstage of the square. He drove by quite close and I snapped a couple nice pictures with my iPhone. And I was glad that Javier had convinced me to hang around.
A Mexican and an American can make a pretty good team…and great friends.
