The Popes Visit
Isabella M Rozario
To many, it had felt as if Christmas had come early. That was the atmosphere of ecstasy and excitement Pope Francis inspired with his recent visit to Bangladesh. In every interaction of his with the people, feelings of faith and admiration seemed almost tangible. With the short visit from Nov 30-Dec 2, the Pope managed to secure a very special place in everyones heart. He succeeded in appealing to all kinds of people, of all faiths. With His Holiness also being present amongst the youth, it just shows the Pope is for all.
On December 1, the Pope held a mass for the general public at the vast Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. When I initially entered the grounds, all I could see was just a huge crowd of people, among whom quite a few faces were familiar. It was the same for many others as well. However, this crowd was different. Here, each face seemed to be illuminated with anticipation and glee.
It was about 10am when the Pope made his entrance. During that time, the screams and cheers were the loudest and the most zealous _ Viva il Papa!, Long live the Pope! _ all hands were stretched out to touch the Popes hands, even just for a split second. After that frenzied moment, the Pope eventually mounted the stage, along with other priests, bishops and of course, the first ever cardinal from Bangladesh, Patrick D Rozario.
The mass was unlike any other I have attended. There were different songs sung in different languages, in English, Bangla and even in Adivasi language. The mass was partially said in English and Latin. The Popes sermon was in Italian. During the holy mass, several exceptional seminarians were promoted or ordained as priests. They received the sacrament through the hands of His Holiness and were blessed with his prayers. The mass lasted for about two hours and came to an end when the Pope said his last prayers and left in his Popemobile.
Pope Francis was also kind and caring enough to spend his time interacting with the youths of this country. The next major programme was held on the grounds of Notre Dame College (NDC). As usual, the lines started forming quite a few hours ahead of the actual event. Once seated, according to dioceses and educational institutions, students were kept entertained by performances by different student groups. There were shows put on by students of Holy Cross, St Euphrasies, St Gregorys, SFX Green Herald and NDC. The students had practised very hard to make sure their performances were perfect.
Then the cardinal from Mumbai, India, provided a warm and wonderful speech on why youths were the pivotal part of a community. Shortly after that, the white Popemobile came into view. This time, too, the short but very personal moment was very memorable for the students, especially those who were lucky enough to touch the Popes hands. Then one of the bishops made a speech thanking His Holiness for responding to their invitation, and also for finding the time, out of his incredibly busy schedule, for the youths.
The Pope then rose to address the youths himself. In his wonderful speech, he included personal anecdotes from Buenos Aires, Argentina, that explained thoroughly why youths shouldnt waste their prime time in careless living, but should focus on creating an impact on their society and surroundings. After listening to the students and watching their performances, the Pope took his leave. The students got together to say their goodbyes to His Holiness for one last time.
The two days were immensely hectic. However, it will always be a memory to behold for the rest of our lives. As for the Pope, his visit once again established that it is only through love and compassion that we will be able to follow in the path of the Almighty.
Photos: Courtesy.
