Pope John Paul II “The Last Encounter”

Tweet

In front of St. Peter's Basilica Square

Breath-taking view on top of the St. Peter's Basilica

Seating at Rome's Trevi Fountain

In front of the basilica with my cousin and the Swiss guard.

Michelangelo's work of art in the ceiling.

At the St. Peter's Tomb

In one of the most difficult times of my life and when escaping is the only way out, my family stand as my  shock absorber. I was lucky indeed to have a very supportive family who was then based abroad and give me chances to contemplate and think of, on how I will I handle my personal life. My relatives believed that divine intervention will be of great help for me to finally think of the best decision to my personal dilemma that time. I traveled abroad way back 2004 and went thru different and significant churches in Rome Italy for soul searching and spiritual counseling. One of which is the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome Italy, it was considered a major basilica in Vatican City, an enclave of Rome. According to my research “St. Peter's Basilica stands on the traditional site where Peter - the apostle who is considered the first pope - was crucified and buried. St. Peter's tomb is under the main altar and many other popes are buried in the basilica as well. Originally founded by Constantine in 324, St. Peter's Basilica was rebuilt in the 16th century by Renaissance masters including Bramante, Michelangelo and Bernini.” I also witness in my own two-eyes the wonder of art works of Michelangelo.

It was indeed a great pleasure for me to experience this breath-taking overview on top of the St. Peter’s Basilica. What more intensifying goose bump experience is when I first saw the live then image of Pope John Paul II during his usual blessing ceremony held every Wednesday at the St. Peter’s Square. The Pope gives blessing to the public audience every Wednesday. Tickets should be requested ahead of time from the Vatican. We are just lucky to have some family friends whom a diocesan priest studying from the Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filippino (ECPCF) who help us on securing a ticket. The PCF is the home in Rome of Filipino diocesan priests who have been sent abroad by their bishops to pursue higher ecclesiastical studies. Pope John Paul II looks weak but then he kept on waving his hand to bless the people around him who come from the other part of the world and wish to see him and seek for his blessings.

The awaiting is over; recently, Pope John Paul II was beatified. No words can best describe the novel works and sacrifices of our beloved Pope John Paul II for Christianity. He already take one step ahead and soon become an official saint. I felt so much blessed as I was given a chance to have an encounter with him, even thou not that close but at least before he finally leave and went to heavenly realm, I came across to a holy one and bid goodbye.