Katie Grant Encounters the Pope

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I though you all might enjoy reading this description of Katie Grant’s encounter with the Pope in Rome. It’s rather long, but worth the read. He managed to impress her despite her reluctance to be impressed.
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=157&id=618172005

“I was filled with a faith as strong as the childish faith of those wide-eyed first communicants, but much deeper, as if all those roots put down in my childhood had suddenly been watered. You may find this laughable. You may even find it disturbing. All I can say is that I found it utterly refreshing.”
May he have the same impact on all of Europe.
 
Sorry, I don’t know why I introduced it that way. She is the Catholic affairs writer for the Scotsman Newspaper.
 
Quotes:

“Then, quietly, the door of St John Lateran opened and something extraordinary happened. As the tops of the halberds carried by the Swiss Guard swam into view, every bit of cynicism and detachment deserted me. I found myself breathless.”

“The halberds moved forwards and, suddenly, the Pope was before us. He himself made nothing of his entry, but, as one, we swayed towards him. Tears streamed down the cheeks of the rottweiler nun, and, to my enormous surprise, down my own. Here was the living successor of St Peter, the guardian of the spirit at the heart of all Rome’s gilded worldly treasures. Here was the Holy Father. When people clapped, I willingly joined in.”

“Astounded at my reaction, I expected it to pass. It did not. During the entire lengthy mass, with its mainly commonplace liturgy and dodgy singing, I remained moved in a way I did not find at all comfortable. I wanted my detachment back, but I couldn’t find it.”

“…the thing that remains sharpest is my chance encounter with an elderly man sporting bright white hair and the fisherman’s ring. Pope Benedict XVI may not be blessed with the charisma of his predecessor, but my goodness, he still packs an Almighty punch.”
 
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