Meeting the Holy Father - Rome, November 2, 2011

We left early in the morning on the regular Malév flight to Rome. Already, the trip taking us to Rome was excellent as we sat in the cockpit, and the pilots took the time to explain how the plane works. We actually stayed in the cockpit until the plane landed. Our hotel in Rome was a gorgeous hotel in the center of the city, where we received fantastic service. The room itself looked like something from a storybook, breakfast was delicious, and the hotel even surprised us with a few treats!

Not long after arriving to the hotel, we headed into the city to see St. Paul’s Basilica, the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Colosseum, the Saint Stairs, the Spanish Steps and in the evening the Trevi Fountain. I was completely overcome by the sights.

The following morning we left for the Vatican, and after waiting in line for a long time, we made it into the hall for the Pope’s blessing. There were seven thousand people (!) in the hall, and I had the honor of sitting in the very first row, since I had a white entrance ticket.
I’ve saved the ticket and will cherish the memory for as long as I live.

I anxiously awaited the arrival of the Holy Father. When He stepped into the room, I felt an incredible feeling in my heart as it filled with gratitude.
People greeted the Holy Father by cheering, and that’s when I knew my dream was going to come true!
During the audience, the Pope was addressed in several languages and in the name of several organizations. There were groups that even greeted the Holy Father by singing a special song or playing instruments. It was a festive occasion giving me a huge boost.

Following the Papal blessing, the approximately 20 people sitting in the first row were allowed to personally greet the Holy Father. It was deeply touched that I was given this special opportunity meet him directly.

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I kissed the papal ring and exchanged a few words with him, then he drew a cross on my forehead and blessed me after which I gave him my personal gift of a small piece of handwork. I recieved a beautiful rosary from the Holy Father. Several pictures were taken of the meeting; we ordered several copies of the prints. I am overjoyed that these pictures were taken, because they will always remind me of my personal meeting with the Holy Father.

The next day we visited the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. Everything was stunning as I caught a glimpse of ancient Rome. I was thrilled that we could spend three sight-filled days in Rome, and the weather was perfect! My escorts were very nice and granted every wish I had!

The Holy Father’s blessing is a gift for a lifetime, which I likely would not have received had I not been sick!

Thank you to everyone involved in making my wish come true; I will never forget this experience, it will always fill me with joy.

Kinga