Memories of John Paul II

The fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II was a couple of days ago.  Maybe it is my age, but it does seem like he died just a few months ago.  I recall being in the cathedral, with Mass just finishing, and the rector came out and went to the ambo.  He asked all of us to pray for the soul of the pope, as the press was announcing he had died.  Actually, the good rector was a bit premature, as the pope did not die until a few hours after his announcement, but for me, that moment is the time and place I will recall when JPII died.

What is just a vivid in my memory is his election in 1978.  I was living in Rome during those months of excitement, and was fortunate to have been a part of two papal funerals, two papal elections, and two papal installations.  As you know from my previous posts, John Paul the First was and remains my favorite pope.  (I so much wish we could have benefited from an extended papacy of Papa Luciani.)  

I can see in memory the night of Wojtyla’s election.  I and two of my friends who happen to have been visiting from the States were camped out on the roof of the “Suore tedesche” who were a congregation of German sisters who lived only a block from St. Peter’s. We watched the smoke from the Sistine Chapel that day, most definitely black, until late in the day it was most probably white.  We rushed down from the roof, and made our way to the piazza to wait for the announcement of the new pope.  It was dusk, and soon the large flood lights situated around the piazza were lighted.  When the announcement finally came, the name Wojtyla was pronounced, and we all thought we were going to see an African pope. Then out he came, and actually spoke to us in our Italian language.  I have a picture I took with a small instamatic Kodak camera.  A small miracle occurred I think, because that picture turned out, despite the darkness.

When we returned to our residence, in came, I should say bounding in, came Msgr. Stryngowski, an American Pole who was a friend of the new pope.  He was beaming from ear to ear.  And all of us rejoiced over a great meal and more than a little wine.

What was immediately evident in the new pope, from his first words on, was his pastoral character.  Only later did we see his scholarly side.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul rest in peace.