Hello, Pope Francis: An Eyewitness Account

For months, my fiancée and I tried to devise a plan to see Pope Francis when he came to the United States. Finally, news of a Papal address before congress piqued my interest, and I contacted every politician I could remotely associate myself with. Six weeks later, we were on a 5 a.m. metro into Washington D.C. with two tickets for the Capitol’s West Lawn. We were going to go see the Pope!

The lawn was quiet during those early morning hours. When the sun rose behind the Capitol, it became apparent that we were standing in front of nearly 50,000 people. And so we all waited. And waited… Suddenly, the sound of brass instruments shattered the calm of the lawn. The U.S. Army Band brought all to their feet, and the crowd’s energy swelled! Pope Francis appeared on the Jumbotrons as a camera tracked him boarding his pope mobile. The crowd now EXPLODED with clapping and cheering. Most, I don’t think, realized for a moment that the pope was still actually miles away!

This excitement faded soon, however, as the Jumbotrons returned to still images of the Pope and we again had to wait. Now, however, the crowd was on edge. The crowd pushed forward for better views, and suddenly the mix of tiredness, unease and physical pushing led tempers to flare and moods to sour. Everywhere throughout the crowd, you could sense an uneasy chaos.

Commotion resumed as the Pope’s motorcade came into view. Our excitement grew as video of Pope Francis inside the Capitol appeared on screen and only intensified as the meeting began. The sour moods and aggravated tempers seemed to be forgotten as all were excited for a chance to see this man that conveys such peace. The suspense intensified until finally the House sergeant-at-arms announced, “Mr. Speaker, the Pope of the Holy See!” The chamber erupted in applause and cheers, that of which were only dwarfed by the sheer number of us outside the walls. At last, after 5 hours of standing and waiting, Pope Francis was about to begin his speech.

The crowd fell silent. Pope Francis spoke softly with a cadence indicating his relative unfamiliarity with speaking English. Nevertheless, he spent the next hour delivering a wonderfully crafted speech that repeatedly brought the house chamber to its feet. Again, our crowd dwarfed the politicians’ responses to comments about dialogue, solidarity, the golden rule, and defense of human life.

The speech ended and again restlessness washed over the crowd. Suddenly, movement at the balcony. This was it! Suddenly, a figure all in white stepped through the doorway of the upper balcony. There, for the first time in my life, I stood in the midst of the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church! “Buenos días,” the Pope stated; the crowd erupted in English and Spanish cheers. He presented a short, yet slow Spanish blessing. Finally, his parting words: “Thank you very much. And God bless America!” Again, explosive cheers. Viva el Papa!