In an historic ceremony Pope Francis proclaimed former Popes John Paul II and John XXIII saints today while Pope emeritus Benedict XVI sat on the side of the altar. It was a four-pope mega event– the first time two popes presided over the canonization mass of two other popes.
Associated Press Television had crews working all night long to cover the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who had descended on Rome eager to get front row seat.
Pilgrims arrived at dawn racing down the Via Della Conciliazione — the road leading from the Tiber River to Saint Peter’s Square–desperate to get a spot in the square. Most of them had spent the night awake, either at prayer vigils around Rome, or sleeping on air mattresses and in sleeping bags on the cobblestoned streets and piazzas around the Vatican.
I spoke to a few of them as they were still waiting to be let into the square:
Michelle Kassis from Beirut Lebanon was slowly moving her way forward towards Saint Peter’s Square, a small Lebanese flag in her hand. She said she was there for John Paul II because, “In Lebanon we really love this Pope, he came to visit Lebanon, he gave us so many messages of love and he brought Lebanon to the entire world, because as you know Lebanon is an Arab country and it is very rare that they see us as dedicated Christians.”
Josephine McManus from Ireland was at the edge of the square eagerly waiting the canonization. She recalled her memories of both the Popes to be made saints,”I was a child when John Paul XXIII was up on a picture frame at home. When John Paul II came to Ireland, I was expecting my fourth child, and I couldn’t get to see him so I am here now in person to see him canonized as Saint.”
Osvaldo Moreno from Mexico was waiting behind a barrier to see if he could get a spot in the square. He said he had been up all night, “”We have been here since 10pm last night, we tried to sleep on the ground wherever we could but we are doing what we can, but I haven’t gotten any sleep and here we are doing are best to see him (John Paul II).”
While the pilgrims fought for a place in the piazza, the dignitaries were brought in through the basilica by the Papal Gentleman. There were Kings and Queens, President and Prime Ministers from 90 countries among the delegation. Queen Sofia of Spain was there in an elaborate white outfit with head-dress. Only Queens can wear white in the Pope’s presence. There was also Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who never misses a big event at the Vatican.
For past few days the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica has been decorated with two enormous banners with the gentle faces of Pope John Paul II and John XXIII both in bright red capes.
Just minutes before the canonization was to begin, 87-year-old Pope emeritus Benedict XVI emerged from St. Peter’s Basilica dressed all in white with a mitre on his head. He was warmly greeted by the Cardinals who bent to kiss his ring. When Pope Francis finally came out of the Basilica he also walked to the former Pope and hugged him. By that time, Benedict was no longer wearing the mitre.
Pope Francis appeared sombre and tired. It was his decision to canonize John Paul II, a hero of Catholic conservatives, together with John XXIII, a hero to progressives. He had apparently urged a subdued ceremony. But the crowd was all but subdued, they sang, cheered, danced and waved banners and flags– in a massive celebration.
The Vatican press office said there were 500,000 pilgrims in and around Saint Peter’s Square and another 300,000 watching the event at the Coliseum and on mega-screens at other locations around the city.
During his homily Pope Francis described John Paul II and John XXIII saying, “They were priests, bishops and popes of the twentieth century. They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them,” adding, “This is also the image of the Church which the Second Vatican Council set before us. John XXIII and John Paul II cooperated with the Holy Spirit in renewing and updating the Church…”
Most of the pilgrims I spoke to were there for John Paul II, but there were also some members of the Roncalli family, descendants of Pope John XXIII.
I covered Pope John Paul II for the last ten years of his life and some of my memories of that are in this blog post: Covering John Paul II.
John Paul II was elected in 1978 at age 58 and became one of the longest serving Popes, 26 years until he died in April 2005. Over that time he became the most travelled Pope in history visiting 120 countries.
John Paul II was an astute politician in addition to a religious figure. He is considered to have been key in toppling Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe beginning with his first visit to Poland in 1979. He was treated like a rock star when he travelled to Latin America in the early years of his papacy. When it came to social doctrine, John Paul II was a staunch conservative, opposing birth control, euthanasia, women priests and homosexuality.
In sharp contrast John XXIII had a very short papacy, lasting only five years from 1958 to 1963, but during that short time he launched the Second Vatican Council, a meeting of church leaders from around the globe, that would revolutionize the church, bringing it into the modern world. He is considered the father behind such progressive ideas as eliminating the Latin Mass and allowing priests to say mass in their local language making it more accessible to the faithful. The council also vastly improved the Catholic church’s relationship with the Jews. John XXIII, then Angelo Roncalli, is credited with saving thousands of Jews from the Holocaust when he was the Papal envoy to Turkey in World War II.
John XXIII is probably most famous for what is known as his “speech to the moon” when he came to the window of the Apostolic apartment the October night in 1963 before the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Speaking to a crowd of people holding candles in the square below he said, ” “Going home, you will find your children. Give them a caress and tell them ‘This is the caress of the pope,'”
It was this simplicity, the naturalness of a parish priest, rather than the stiff formality of earlier Popes that gained John XXIII such wide popularity. This week, many people I interviewed said Pope Francis’ style remind them of the simplicity of John XXIII.
After presiding over the canonization with a stern expressive on his face, Pope Francis seemed to spring to life as he got in the Pope-mobile at the end of the event and was driven through the crowd greeting the faithful who went wild with excitement.
Thanks for this interesting article after the ceremony. My idea to tape it didn’t work out so this is my f irst info on it. I also appreciate the other two articles you sent with this.
Perhaps next time I am in Rome it will not be so difficult for me to find something about St. John XXIII beyond postcards in the Vatican book store. I found only those there and nothing in the museum sales racks when I was there in winter of 2012 and he was “only blessed.” The clerk in the book store did tell me he had information in Italian, but that was impossible for me. I have a special place for him because on my first visit to Rome in 1961 my Newman Club tour group attended an audience–a wonderful experience..
Joan– I would love to hear your thoughts and impressions about John XXIII. What was he like in person? I think that is so amazing that you got to see him back in 1961. To be honest, most of the faithful I spoke to in the square were there for John Paul II, but I did meet the Roncalli family (that I put in the photo), and the lovely Irish women who grew up with John XXIII’s photo on the wall of their homes. I also think that in his short period as Pope, John XXIII managed to bring the church into the modern world, something not many people could do.
Great post on an historic event and interesting decision of Francis to canonize them together. What an adroit leader.
And great to see a MM post again.
L/D
Thank you Dad…Mozzarella Mamma is trying to keep up with blogging, but it is not always easy.
Trisha, it is so outstanding to get a post from you about this on the very day it happened! I marvel at your expressiveness and your ability to work, when just being there must have been exhausting, and when you are already exhausted enough in your own life! Amazing woman!!!
I waver between the honest joy of the pilgrims and the politics in these decisions and the politics to which these canonizations will be put in the future, I waver between my own sense that JP2 does not deserve this because he was so manipulative of the world as well as of the church (Saints should not have the same achievements as corporate leaders), and that Benedict is troublesome still, and my awareness that I simply cannot fathom the adulation of the papacy but it is real, and honorable in being real.
To me, cynical Protestant that I am, it makes heaven seem to be full of jostling crowds seeking favor with God through enlisting these power guys. Very different from praying to a humbler or older saint for support in a crisis.
Thank you for the comments from ordinary people who came a long way to be there. And for the images of two fakes, Queen Sofia in her white dress (faking virtue?) and Robert Mugabe, slimed with blood and cruelty, getting a front row seat. It’s a snapshot of the world, this event. I hope Pope Francis can put his feet up tonight and rest.
Thank you Nancy for the compliments — I really struggled to get that post out before I left our work area at the Vatican. All my colleagues had left and the two technical guys from the AP Rome Bureau (Rocco and Mauro) were pulling out all the cables, temporary wi-fi installations etc. I asked them if I could remain at the desk working on my lap-top to crank the blog post. I knew once I went home there was no chance of getting it done. All the AP Rome bureau knows about my blog and often call me “Mozzarella Mamma” instead of “Trisha”. They all try to help me with it, so Mauro and Rocco cheerfully encouraged me to finish. But I slammed it out so fast it was full of errors. I had Pope John Paul II sitting at the altar with Pope Francis and I called John XXIII, John XXXII, I had Queen Sofia “whering” a white headdress. Good Grief I was tired. Fortunately my Mom–a talented copy editor by instinct– caught my errors with in a few hours of posting so I corrected them.
As far as all the Saints and Miracles business goes, it is very hard for a non-Catholic to comprehend. I think the concept of miracles plays on people’s ignorance and I am not sure if it lessens their suffering by giving them hope, or worsens it by not allowing them to accept and face a grim reality. After the ceremony I had to cover the pilgrims visiting the tombs of the two saints inside St. Peter’s Basilica. Hundreds of Poles were on their knees in front of the tomb of JPII. I watched the intensity on some of their faces and wondered what kind of help they were asking for, what they were thinking and praying for? A little part of me was almost envious of their clearly all-consuming faith, but I could never be like that.
I agree that Francis’ decision to canonize them together was adroit. He has done a couple things recently that I can’t quite figure out. Is he being an astute Jesuit or a humble parish priest. For example he called a woman in Argentina and told her she could take communion even though her husband was divorced and his first marriage was not annulled. Pope Francis said it was ok, and then later the Pope’s spokesman came out and said that it was a private conversation and did not represent church policy. What is going on? Anyway, this has become a rambling response. Like many others, I will continue to watch Francis and try to understand where he is headed.
MM… u do astounding work juggling 4 popes children and husband while running around roma blogging so the rest of us can taste and feel the vaticano… salute
thank you! Yes, I do a hell of a lot of juggling (got a dog to juggle now too) and I also let a lot of balls fall. Oh well, pick them up and keep on juggling.
Thanks for this, Trisha! I wanted so badly to catch the Live streaming from Salt and Light, but I couldn’t get myself up at the ungodly hour of 3:30 AM here in Toronto. I must admit, I know many things about JPII (now St. JPII, I suppose), but I really don’t know much about St. John XXIII, so I appreciate that little tidbit you had on him!
Gosh, no you are making me think I should have written more about John XXIII, there is so much to say about him. I think what he did to save Jews in World War II is particularly important. Another time, another post. Thanks for being so supportive on the blog. Ciao, ,Trisha
What a wonderful insightful view to this day. Thank you for this. I was in Italy during this week, but was in Assisi on this particular day. Assisi was ever so crowded the day prior, but on Saturday evening, you could see the endless trail of tail lights heading down the road out of Assisi and on to Rome. On Sunday the city was practically empty as all the pilgrims and tourist usually found there were in Rome witnessing this historical event. When I made my own way down to Rome two days later, I still felt the afterglow amongst the people there, just as I had experienced when I had the pleasure of witnessing the conclave events years earlier of Pope Benedict. It’s a feeling of warmth and kindness among people that I cannot quite put into words. I also had the amazing pleasure of attending a general audience with Pope Francis and I must say that to experience this man in person is something else! He really does exude such warmth and genuine kindness that just glows all around him. The nuns around me were swooning like chicks at an Elvis concert! (I thought they were going to rip off their habits!) It was definitely an experience I will not soon forget. Hey, and I saw Gorgeous George, too! :-)
Kay — I love the way you write: “Nuns swooning like chicks at an elvis concert” at the Pope’s weekly audience. Yes, I have seen that sort of thing myself, it is hilarious. Ah, and gorgeous George. Indeed, he is.
He is gorgeous in that sort of “Thorn Birds” – Father di Briccasart sort of way. I really am intrigued when I see him and Pope Benedict together – particularly in the last days of his papacy. For instance in the last day when he was PB was being whisked off in the helicopter, there was not only a closeness, but a real tenderness that George showed for PB. It was a genuine love. I have no ill intent by my comments, but there is a real love between them whatever the context may be, I do not know and it is not for me to judge, but I wish that everyone could experience that one time in their lives.
That is a very beautiful comment Kay, and I can see that you mean it with no ill intent. I agree that Georg is gorgeous in a “Thorn Birds” sort of way, and I also saw all the same video you did in the last days of Pope Benedict and you are absolutely right, there was a true warmth, tenderness and love. And I believe there still is. Georg released a very interesting interview on the anniversary of Benedict’s resignation describing how he saw it as such a courageous act that changed the future of the church. I think he was right. Georg lives with Benedict now and I believe will care for him until his death.