ROMA, Gian Francesco Romano. A great feast of the Church: thus we can sum one of the most vital and anticipated of the Year of Faith, the vigil of Pentecost of the Pope with the Movements, Associations and Lay Sodalities, held on Saturday, May 18 in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. An event which was also attended by the Schoenstatt Movement and in particular its Italian family, present with about 150 of its members.
The people of God, united by the Spirit
The occasion is one of those in which more than ever, what matters is to participate. It is to express, on the eve of Pentecost, the beauty of the Church enlivened by the Holy Spirit, who through His charisma and differentiates and at the same time binds the various ecclesial realities. So everyone wants to be in St. Peter’s Square: 200,000 people, according to the latest estimates, (when only the day before, they were expecting a little more than half) and over 150 symbols of various movements and associations.
One has the impression of being in the middle of a small cross-section of the immensity of God’s people, as diverse as there are gifts of the Spirit, ranging from young to old, from children to the disabled, the religious in their habit and those wearing Bermuda shorts. .. The overall view is one of those that are good for your heart, because you can see in the shadow of the Basilica families and ordinary people, people who normally do not make the news, but that daily are at the forefront of living and spreading the Gospel.
The entrance to the square is not too easy, partly due to some organizational flaws. So the group of Schoenstatt Italy is forced to split. Immediately one has a feeling of sadness and regret, but it will be very comforting, then, to see how much fellowship and sense of family may arise from seeing a yellow and blue flag waving in the distance with the Shrine silhouette, or read the name of Schoenstatt on the large banner designed to the occasion.
The anticipation and excitement
Under a fairly clement sun then the show starts, and anticipating the meeting with the Pope was a succession on stage of more or less well-known Catholic associations, each with its own wealth of experience and stories to share. Even the music is part of the program, with songs of Christian character that break the rhythm of the testimonies.
But it is clear to everyone that these are the starters, so much so that in the square there are some who takes the opportunity to rest, relax or simply – as is the case in the group of Schoenstatt – to discuss and exchange ideas on the day and on the reality of Church. At 17:30, with almost half an hour in advance, the Pope makes his entrance with the Popemobile. Start the usual long tour that brings him to pass by virtually all sectors, offering moments of happiness also to the main group of the representation that Schoenstatt, located quite near the obelisk, see parading in front of him, the Pope twice. Photographs, wobbling, choirs, smiles, blessings … I am moments, but in the individual seem to last much longer.
The vigil Papa Francesco: a “one man show”
Talk about a Pope like a star may not be the best way to represent this. And besides, before the communication skills there are other qualities that should characterize a good shepherd: faith, charity, be visible image of God … But if Papa Francesco, besides all this, it is also an extraordinary communicator, what can we do?
By his preaching, spontaneous and instantly understandable, his style so informal and disarming brings smiles to the crowd. Like when he said that sometimes when he prayed the night before the tabernacle, he happens to fall asleep, or when, nodding to his collaborators, regrets that they do not allow him to leave the Vatican to confess.
Unlike the star, however, Francis does not seek applause or attention to himself. On the contrary, all his catechesis are simple, reminiscent of a pastor, pitched to bring anew in the centre the tenets of the faith, especially on this occasion, particularly where the members have in front of them those movements which, when united with the Church, can do so much good for the New Evangelization. He speaks of prayer and testimony, to come out toward others, and of the centrality of the family in the transmission of the faith – issues that sparked particular resonance in the hearts of all present Schoensttatters, and especially puts Jesus at the center, with a gentle rebuke to faithful: “” All of you have cried in the square “Francis, Francis, Francis Pope.” But, where was Jesus? I wanted that you cried out, “Jesus, Jesus is Lord, and He is in our midst.” From here on, no “Francis”, but “Jesus”! “.
The meeting ended just before sunset. The Regina Coeli resounds, and the various groups of the faithful go off in no particular order, the Pope greets cordially Father Heinrich Walter, the Superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers, and only then also the group of Schoenstatt leave the square, with the satisfaction of having spent Saturday 18 of the Marian month in communion with the Pope and the Church.
Original: Italian. Translation: Valerio Salvador, Johannesburg, South Africa
