[saligaonet] Recalling the grreat moment.

[Nascimen]

Pope Jonh Paul  II held my hands , spoke and bless me.     The International Confederation of Christian Family Movement( ICCFM) held its World Assembly of Families, In Domus Mariae,  in Rome, from November 16--20, 1980.The theme was: The Christian Families response to the Synod of Bishops on * The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World*. As I formed part of the Indian delegation to this  International Assembly as Chaplain of the Christian Family Movement, it led me to have an encounter with Pope John Paul II(1920-2005), on 3rd December,1980. I was a guest for a month of  Mr and Mrs.CARONTI Franco & Lucilla, Via G.V. Pieralice 70, 00167 Roma and it was they who worked to get me a Pass for a General Audience. I remember the brief encounter I had with  the good Pontiff on 3rd December, 1980 around noon. There was a thunderous applause as His Holiness entered the General Audience Hall and walked through, stopping briefly, ascending the podium and greeting every one.  It was Monsenhor( now Cardinal)Stanislaw Dziwisz, His Holiness'  personal Secretary, who noticed me in the front row quite close to the third platform and led  Pope John Paul  II to me. I was puzzled and nervous for a moment. The Holy Father assured me courage with a smile. His Holiness asked my name. There was deep silence around .* I am Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas, from Goa, India., I replied: " Oh, to-day is the feast of your great Saint Francis Xavier", Hos Hpliness said( There was broader smile, on my rface). Then His Holiness held both my hands and said:* My blessings to you and your your people.Pray for Peace. and Missionaries" Then the Holy Father blessed me and laid His hand on my head.  The photos I have before me  of this audience say it all. That  one line message,I have  always cherished and specially at this very moment when His Holiness' body is being laid in the crypt at Basilica of St. Peter in Rome. In the silence of my heart I pray "May his soul  of the Polish born Pope who did visit our Goa, on 5th-6th, Feb. 1986 rest in peace. This is my short tribute to a great Pope of the new millenium. Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas.