A PRIVILEGE and a profound experience is how one Australian pilgrim described his close encounter with Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day.
Adam Morris, 26, who is co-ordinator of Catholic Youth Ministry in Canberra and Goulburn archdiocese, was one of two Australian delegates chosen to represent the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference at the celebrations in Toronto, Canada from July 23-28.
The other delegate, Shannon Cavanagh from Townsville diocese, was still overseas last week.
Adam said as one of the 150 delegates representing 75 countries, he was privileged to have several major roles during the Pope’s visit.
‘For the first time the delegates from the various countries were part of a liturgy group. During the celebrations I met the Pope three times.’
He said the first occasion was to welcome the Pope on behalf of the Oceania countries.
‘That was just sprung on us, we were all ready to go with our flags and then an announcement came over that we were to do the welcome, so we had literally 10 minutes to practice.’
Adam said, while he had gone to Canada with a host of things he wanted to say to the Pope if the chance arose, on all three occasions he was tongue-tied with awe.
‘I had this idea in my head that when I had finished the welcome I would look over at him and say g’day, but I was so nervous that I forgot to even look at him.’
He said his second chance came at the end of the vigil.
‘I was really lucky to be one of 12 chosen to receive salt from the Pope at the end of the vigil.
‘A guy in Canada had carved about a one tonne block of salt and then carved 12 other smaller blocks and we had to go up and receive the salt from the Pope who was sending us forth with it.
‘And again I was so awed by just being able to meet this man who had always been someone I looked up to that my mind went numb. I have read a lot of his books and encyclicals and have always wanted to one day meet him and when I did it was mind numbing. I didn’t even look at him.’
Adam’s third chance to meet the Pope came when he was privileged to receive Communion from the pontiff.
‘I thought this time I am going to have a really good look and I stood there and just looked at his eyes, but they must have thought I was a bit slow or something because the guy to one side was telling me to move on and then the Pope laid his finger in my hand and said, ‘You eat’, so I moved.
‘Just in receiving Communion from the Pope I was so blown away. When he placed his finger in my hand it was a pretty profound experience for me, but I guess it was just something pretty simple for him.’
Adam said in that brief close-up glimpse he saw a ‘very gentle, quiet and humble man’.
‘He really shone with Christ. He just kept focusing and drawing us to Jesus throughout the whole celebrations. He seemed to have an enormous respect for everyone who came up to him. He is truly a genuine man, a person of integrity and peace.’
Adam said it was also a privilege to meet the other delegates who had come from countries with war, famine or economic crisis.
‘There were no barriers between us and I came away with a profound sense of how blessed we are to be Australian.’
He said the people who had the most problems in their countries were the ones who seemed to have deeper faith.
‘They were the ones who were the most alive during the week, the guys from Africa, the girl from Buenos Aries, it was a massive privilege just to be there with them.’
Adam said, as for his block of salt, he was yet to decide what to do with it.
‘It’s sitting on my altar at home at the moment, but I’m not sure what to do about it. My wife suggested we have it encased, but at the moment it’s not melting too much from humidity, it’s pretty dry in Canberra.’
