The Catholic Standard and Times

“Dear Friends!”

On Sunday during his installation, when the Holy Father, Pope Benedict the XVI, greeted us with those words, I felt, truly, that I am his friend — and that I was standing in a crowd of thousands of his friends.

Sisters were waving the flags of their orders; joy was radiating from their faces. Families held their children close, and fathers put their youngest on their shoulders to catch a glimpse of his Holiness.

Germans and Austrians dressed in traditional outfits of dirndls and lederhosen, and carried banners with messages of encouragement and love for the Pope. Scouts — similar to our American Boy Scouts — filed into St. Peter’s Square with their backpacks and their neckerchiefs tied tight, leaning on each other after journeying from all parts of Europe.

We heard reports that the crowd stretched all the way out of St. Peter’s Square and into the boulevard beyond. People had come from all over to show their support for the shepherd of the Catholic Church.

A group of 20 of us, students from Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Gaming campus, left Austria Friday afternoon by train, car, or any other means of transportation that would get us to Rome. We arrived Saturday morning.

The weekend was not designated for travel — we had to study for final exams — but we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the installation of our new Pope. All of us scrambled to pack our bags. Without accommodations for Saturday night, and with my backpack filled to the brim with rosaries, medals, and religious pictures to be blessed by the Pope, I headed to Rome.

When we got there, the excitement was palpable.

We scrambled off the train and into the metro, and made straight for the Vatican.

First, we headed to St. Peter’s Basilica to see Pope John Paul II’s tomb, and pray for a safe pilgrimage while in Rome. After spending some time in the Basilica, we went to our favorite religious goods store — Soprani’s — to fight through the crowds trying to pick up last-minute St. Benedict medals.

After that, we did what every Roman should do — eat. We had spent all our money on medals and rosaries, so pizza and gelati was all we could afford.

On Saturday afternoon we met up with some friends and walked to the North American College, a beautiful campus for seminarians who study in Rome. We were looking for the U.S. bishops’ office, because at that point we were still unsure whether we needed tickets for the Mass on Sunday.

A priest — the secretary of Cardinal Francis George of Chicago — was standing outside, waiting for the U.S. delegation.

I asked him if he knew whether Cardinal Justin Rigali was staying at the NAC. He said he thought so, and asked whether we would like him to call for him.

Without out even blinking I said yes.

Cardinal Rigali was happy to hear from someone from his Archdiocese, and he came down to meet us.

While walking to greet Cardinal Rigali, we also got a big welcome from Cardinal George before the U.S. delegation greeted him.

Within the space of five minutes, five college kids were standing inside of one of the most prestigious seminaries in Rome, speaking with two Cardinals — with secret service roaming the area, the U.S. delegation walking by, and Italian police guarding the entrance to the compound. Then Cardinal Rigali pulled out two bags of German candies and gave them to us, saying we would need them if we were going to sleep outside to wait for the Pope.

I was so proud to be introducing my friends to my Cardinal — who blessed us, talked to us, and wished us a great time in Rome.

As night grew close, we prepared to sleep on the streets of Rome, outside the Vatican, to be at the front of the line for seats at the installation Mass the next day. When I say “sleep,” I am really talking more or less about holding a spot in line while passing your rosary beads through your hands, because you are scared that you will fall over from exhaustion the next day.

By the grace of God we made it — even after the authorities moved us to different locations throughout the night, and after hours of standing squished like sardines. A prayer I repeated many times: “Pope John Paul II, get me through.”

Once we were in the Square, and in great seats next to some Benedictine Sisters from the Philippines, all the aches and pains stopped.

Young people were cheering all around me. The flags of Germany and Italy were waving high in the air. All I could do was thank God for the opportunity to be at the center of my faith for Pope Benedict XVI’s installation.

I think one quote from the Pope’s homily on Sunday might wind up describing his papacy: “My real program of governance is not to do my own will, not to pursue my own idea, but to listen, together with the whole Church, to the word and the will of the Lord — to be guided by Him, so that He, Himself, will lead the Church at this hour of our history.”

When Pope John Paul II died, I thought I would never be capable of loving another Pope with the same vigor and enthusiasm, but I can truly say that — after standing all night, and traveling to a different country with a heavy backpack, and even with the resulting stinky feet — I love this Pope just as much as the last.

Jason Buck is a sophomore at Franciscan University at Steubenville. He is spending a semester at the school’s Austrian campus.