Submitted by Mary Quinn on the 2016 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science…
This past week my study abroad trip had a once in a lifetime experience at Vatican City. We were members of the Papal Audience, and listened to Pope Francis speak about brotherhood in the middle of St. Peter’s Square. As members of the general audience, we got seats as close as we possibly could. Little did we know that Pope Francis was going to ride around the square in his Pope-mobile. This was incredibly exciting because he drove right by our seats. The energy and spirit all around me was unlike anything I have ever experienced. It was such an overwhelming feeling to know that everyone in that audience was there to see the same person. The thousands of families, students and religious clergy were all there to experience the same thing.
The number of people from all over the world was also incredible. Although I was in Italy, I felt like I was at a world event. After Pope Francis spoke part of the service in Italian, a different priest would come up and summarize what the readings were about, but all in a different language. We heard Spanish, Polish, French, English and many more languages while we were there. I appreciated this because it really made the whole service possible for everyone to enjoy and participate in, because the language barrier was taken away. At the audience, they honored all the students that were present, and read out all the different universities and schools that were in attendance. Hearing the University of Delaware called was very exciting.
One thing that really struck me though, occurred before we even went through security to enter the square. There was an older man that was walking along the lines of people asking if anyone had an extra ticket. My professor, Dr. Arena, saw this man and offered him one of the few extra tickets, he had on hand. The older man was so overwhelmed with joy that he started crying. He then offered Dr. Arena a postcard of the Vatican that he had purchased as a souvenir. The reaction that this man had once he was offered the extra ticket really encompassed what this whole visit was about. Everyone was there because they truly wanted to be in the presence of someone that carries so much importance and meaning in their lives and the world, and I really feel blessed to have been there as well.
