MEETING THE POPE

In February 2010, Michael Carrie, a parishioner of St. Clement's, who is studying for the priesthood in Rome, was lucky to have the chance to meet His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI....

"Every five years or so, the Bishops of Scotland are required to journey to Rome to meet with the Holy Father and gave him a report about their diocese, during what is called their Ad Limina visitation. The also meet with the heads of the various commissions and departments in the Vatican to discuss various things. The Bishops of Scotland came out to Rome for their Ad Limina in February 2010, and the students of the Pontifical Scots College, where I am studying, were lucky to accompany their respective bishop during his individual meeting the the Holy Father. The meetings were scheduled to take place on 4 and 5 February at the end of the visit. This was also when the seminarians were sitting exams so there was initially some uncertainty, as to whether students would be free at the time their bishop was due to meet with the Pope. In my case I had an exam on the morning of 5 February, which was when Bishop Vincent was due to meet the Holy Father. To say I was a bit anxious that I might miss my chance to meet the Pope was something of an understatement! The exact time when Bishop Vincent was to go in was not known, but Father Hughes, the Rector, said that if I missed that chance, I would be able to go in with one of the other bishops. 

Friday 5 February is a day I will remember for a long time. I made my way into the university to sit my Church History exam, nervous not just about the exam, but also about whether or not I would get to meet the Holy Father. I was out of the exam in 30 minutes, in a taxi and arrived at St. Peter's Square to meet up with the other students and priests who were meeting the Pope that morning. I had been told to wait for Bishop Vincent in the square as he was due to go in at 11.30 a.m., however, Bishops Tartaglia and Moran, who were due in before him told me to come in with them and wait inside the Apostolic Palace for Bishop Vincent. It was an amazing experience walking past the Swiss Guards and travelling up in the lift the the Holy Father's apartments in the Palace. With me were students from the dioceses of Paisley and Aberdeen, along with the post-graduate priests from Poland and Africa, who lived in the college. Bishop Tartaglia went in with his students first. One of the Pope's secretary's came into the room where the rest of us were waiting, \and said that the rest of us would be going in with Bishop Moran, including me, as Bishop Vincent hadn't appeared yet. So we went into another ante-chamber and nervously waited our turn to go in. Each of us then moved into the next room, which was Pope Benedict's study. As I was standing waiting to go in, I could see the Holy Father talking to the student who had gone in before me. I couldn't believe I was so close to meeting him. Then it was my turn!

I walked forward and Bishop Moran introduced me to the Holy Father, I knelt down and kissed his ring. He asked me which diocese I was from and I replied "Dunkeld". He next asked me what university I was studying at. "The Angelicum", I replied. And he said, "Ah, St. Thomas Aquinas". St. Thomas is the patron of the university. All the while photographs were being taken, next I was presented with a rosary from the Pope, and then there was a group photo.

We were then ushered out whilst Bishop Moran had his meeting with the Pope. We were taken to another room where some of the other Scottish bishops were waiting. After Bishop Moran came out, we were ushered out, and I was expecting just to head back to the college. However on my way out, Bishop Vincent was coming in, he had been waiting for me outside. I told him how I had already been in with Bishop Moran and the other group. He said, "Well, I'm not going in on my own. My student is coming in with me." So, I was going to meet the Pope for a second time within half an hour! As we approached the ante-chamber I had been in before, the secretary spotted me and said, "You have been in already, you're not going in again". Bishop Vincent, however was having none of it, and managed to convince him to let me in again. 

So, here I was about to meet the Pope again. We were ushered in and Bishop Vincent, proudly introduced me as his student. I could see the Pope looking at me, as if to say, "Haven't we just met!". More photos were taken and I received a second papal rosary. I then left Bishop Vincent to have his meeting with Pope Benedict. While I was waiting, the other bishops were joking with me about managing to get a second meeting with the Pope. Bishop Vincent then came out from his meeting and I had a brief chat with him before heading back to the college. When I got back to the college I couldn't wait to tell everyone about my luck. I decided to embellish my story slightly by adding that the second time I went in, the Pope had asked me, "Do you have a twin?" I managed to keep that story going for quite a while.

Never did I think that I would have the chance to meet the Holy Father along with my Bishop. I am very lucky to have had that chance, and I am very grateful to the bishops and college staff for the opportunity. I am also grateful to God for giving me the chance to meet His Vicar on Earth."