If you had seen the Pope in the audience of a good half hour that he granted me yesterday, you would have wept with joy. With what goodness he spoke to me, with what grace he smiled at the things I said, with what abandon he granted me all that I asked, with what confidence, I cannot help telling you, he spoke to me of things quite secret, which proved to me the opinion that he kindly has of me; but I knew it already by all that the Holy Father had said about me on different occasions to different persons. Also, I was quite at ease remaining on my knees at his feet which he would never let me kiss; he presented to me, instead his holy hand that I kissed, you might think with ecstasy, but no, just with emotion and recollection, taking the liberty of pressing it to my forehead.
Letter to Henri Tempier, 16 April 1826, EO VII n 237
In his diary, Eugene recorded this personal account and his reactions:
I was received in the same room as the first time. The Pope was sitting in the same place, but I found him looking much better. He signalled for me to approach, wishing to cut short the protocol which requires three genuflections, and I made only one before being at his feet, where I wished to remain kneeling in spite of his insistence that I get up again. My first words addressed to him expressed my gratitude for the kindness he had heaped upon me; the Pope understood that I was deeply moved by it and was good enough to tell me that what he had done for me … was only his duty to do so. The Pope really made me feel so at home that there instantly began a very interesting conversation between us; and if from my part, I completely opened my heart to him, for his part, he spoke so trustingly as to give me some idea of his great respect for me. I profited from such a beautiful occasion to present him with all the requests I had written down on a piece of paper. I took only the precaution of asking His Holiness permission to be indiscreet since it was the last time I would have the joy of being at his feet. I had noted sixteen articles that I brought out one after another. The Pope did not refuse me anything; on the contrary, with his customary grace, he gladly granted me everything I asked of him…
I will never forget all the other details of that memorable audience. I ended asking the Holy Father for a rosary for my uncle and a medal for myself: “The Jubilee Year has taken everything from me, he replied, I have no more of them here, but tomorrow I will give Bishop Caprano what you desire”. And he did not forget, since he gave him, in fact, a superb rosary with a golden chain with a pendant and a large golden medal, and two more silver medals for myself. I was not able to kiss his feet; twice he extended his hand which I kissed with the deepest devotion. I asked his Apostolic Blessing for my mother, my sister, her children, her family, my uncle, our society and myself; Oh! I give you that with all my heart, de rare caeli, raising his eyes to heaven; may they continue, speaking of our members, to work hard for the good of souls, etc. He asked me to greet my uncle and wished me a good journey.
Roman Diary, 15 April 1826, EO XVII
“The new pope knows that his task is to make the light of Christ shine before men and women of world – not his own light, but that of Christ.” Pope Benedict XVI
To be in the presence of a great and holy person – that is such a gift. It can be difficult at times to try and describe what it is about that person that makes them appear to be so wonderful but I think that Pope Benedict nailed it – “The new pope knows that his task is to make the light of Christ shine before men and women of world – not his own light, but that of Christ.” We become aware and see Christ when our hearts are clear. Eugene saw this in the Pope, we see it in Eugene, we see it to varying degrees in each other. We see this light of Christ when we are not all tied-up in ourselves.
Coming here this morning and first reading Eugene’s account of his meeting with the Pope I found myself being a little taken-aback at the effusiveness of Eugene. But would I be any different? I have been gifted to know in my lifetime some very great and holy men and women – some being more well known than others – each of them leaders in their own way of a few or of many. I look at Eugene, at the Oblates, at the members of this incredible family who let the light of Christ shine through them so that all who come to see and know them can share in it. I sometimes find my heart and my eyes filling up – it is the with the joy of witnessing and being a part of. Eugene, his spirit – continues to show us how.