M.K.George
Rome: Last Sunday (September 19), St. Peter’s Square saw one of the largest crowds in two years, since the empty days of corona virus, to pray the Angelus with Pope Francis.
What a thrilling experience, when thousands put their hands together, some call out ‘Papa, Papa,’ and thousands smile at the second window from right on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace of the Pope in Rome. Contrast it with the lonely walk of the octogenarian Pope on a drizzling, cloudy Easter evening last year, and you get a feel of the excitement of the day.
It is so like clockwork. When the Pope is in Rome, every Sunday, exactly at 12 O’clock noon Papa’s smiling face appears, he waves to the crowds below, people watch standing in the square, the terraces of the nearby building, and of course millions watch on the TV and many more listen on radio. The two giant screens in the square makes Pope come closer, a privilege that has been denied because of the virus. Who can forget the crowds who clung to the Pope in the square.
The routine is clear and probably has stood the test of time. First five minutes of reflection on the Bible reading of the day, Angelus, a blessing and then greetings to various groups, requests for prayers for the needy across the world and invariably papa Francis ends with his unique style, ‘please do not forget to pray for me! Enjoy your lunch and arrivederci!’
An interesting history
The tradition of the pope reciting the Angelus with visitors in St. Peter’s Square is said to have begun with Pope Pius XII in the fall of 1954. He had done a special radio broadcast of the Angelus on the feast of the Assumption, August 15, that year and decided it was a practice he wanted to expand. Since then, the popes have kept the Sunday noon appointment except when they were traveling or, in the case of St. John Paul II, when he was hospitalized. Interesting to note that both Pope John Paul and Pope Francis conducted Angelus from hospital balconies, when they were hospitalized.
It is a time of prayer
Of the thousands who attend the prayer, many may be there just out of curiosity as tourists. But, once you are there, you experience an amazing pin-drop silence. You rarely see such disciplined crowds. Even those who may not believe in God or prayer, become silent, listen and share a common bond. Expressions of intense emotion, joy, crying and waving are so common. The middle-aged woman who stood near me in the crowd, unabashedly cried as she waved at the Pope.
Pope Francis has made the whole routine so personal. He greets specific groups by name. He recalls the current tragedies across the world and requests people to pray for the victims. Pope Francis’ big heart seems to miss nothing, especially when the poor and vulnerable are involved.
The best of Christianity
One cannot fail to see that these ten minutes of the Pope with the people represent the best of Christianity: Acknowledging and praising a loving God, declaring that we are brothers and sisters, that we are guardians of one another, that we need to pray for each other, that the suffering around the world matters to you and me. The spirit of hospitality bubbles in the square.
We pray for the day when Pope Francis can walk down the steps, mix with people, shaking hands, hugging, kissing, blessing.
It is all about joy, the kind of joy Jesus alone can give.
(Jesuit Father M K George is based in Rome.)
Prayer is a powerful weapon of mass construction.