Visiting the Pope in Washington, D.C.
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To wake up at 4:00 a.m. is no joke; and there had better be a good reason to do so, because it is already bad enough to have to wake up here at the Academy every day at a quarter to six. Sure enough, that was just the case on April 16, 2008. The Pope was in town! – in Washington D.C., that is. To make the occasion even more special, it was his birthday as well.
It took us a good four and a half hours to get there. On our way to country’s capitol, we stopped at Turkey Run Park, just outside the city, to have a quick breakfast of doughnuts and yogurt: not the normal fare of bacon and eggs freshly made by Mr. Bill, our cook, but this was no normal day. After already four hours on the road, this was a welcome stop to freshen up and prepare physically and psychologically for what was about to take place.
Shortly after 9:00 a.m., we arrived downtown to Massachusetts Avenue, or Embassy Row, as it is called. Everyone was eyeing to see which embassy they could spot, right on the path where the Pope would pass. “There’s the British embassy!” clamored one student, as another chimed in, “Oh, and there’s the Iranian one, also !” (It is not necessary to quote any commentaries on the latter.) One of lads of Norwegian descent shouted, “There’s the Norwegian one, too!” and that was right next to the Nunciature, or Vatican Embassy.
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Having passed the place previously decided upon to greet the Pope, we had to make an about face. After the bus turned around, a police officer flagged us down. “Oh, no!” we thought worriedly, “What did we do wrong?” “Where are you headed?” the policeman inquired. “We were hoping to park somewhere around here so that we can see the Pope pass by,” answered one of the teachers. In a friendly manner the officer signaled, “Why don’t you park over there next to that driveway.” “Thank you officer!” the teacher said surprisedly. It was the perfect place.
Anxiously the students gathered their belongings and readied themselves to see the Pope. After a short walk down Massachusetts Avenue, we arrived at the perfect spot: Normanstone Park, across from the British embassy. It was a beautiful day and the park was a great setting to set up our banner and greet the Holy Father.
All of the sudden around ten o’clock there was a commotion on the street. The headmaster gave an order for everyone to line up, and suddenly two limousines passed by escorted by several police cars. “Did you see him?!” inquired one of the boys. “Sure I did!” retorted another. It all happened so quickly, we were all in a daze; “Was that it?” we pondered. “No, no. He will be passing by in the popemobile at around noon,” someone explained. He would return at that time from the White House where he was headed. Everyone sighed in relief.
In the meantime our Norwegian enthusiast David Womack asked if he could visit the Norwegian embassy. Mr. Drake was happy to oblige, so all the Womack boys were elated. A few others tagged along in interest as to see what it is like inside one of those imposing buildings. “Can we go visit the Brazilian and Russian embassy?” pleaded another for a group who had those ethnic backgrounds. “Sure, just be sure to be back in an hour so we can be ready to see the Pope,” commanded the headmaster. While some went their ways, others stayed at the park to guard our place and relax a bit.
As noontime approached, an air of expectation and almost excitement hovered overhead. “How will we know when he’s coming?” one asked. “Just wait,…” was the reply. When the cheering could be heard, we knew the time had come. Spontaneously, “Hello! Long live the Pope! Happy Birthday!” could be heard. Some even cried out in Italian, ”Viva il Papa!” as they waved the tiny papal flags.
The Academy banner read: “Holy Father: Welcome to the United States! We are proud of our Catholic Faith and heritage!”
It was all over too soon, but there was a sense of satisfaction because none of us can say we will ever see the Pope here again. This may have been one of those once-in-a-lifetime situations. Thank God we were able to go.
On the way back we stopped off at the National Zoological Park to have lunch and take a quick look at the animals. Some of the students saw the pandas, sloth bears, and leopards while others went to see the Amazonia sector with aquaria and tropical plants and birds. The zoo was a nice way to finish off the day.
Despite the long drive to and from Washington, the excursion was well worthwhile. We were able to see the Holy Father, and above all, were able to greet him and show him that in America the Catholic Faith is alive and well, no matter what anyone might say.
Our hearts and souls will always turn to Rome, where the successor of St. Peter resides and governs, until the end of time. As the Academy students sing almost every evening: “O Rome Eternal,… Peter’s own voice the whole world hears in thine, comfort and shield in this combat most divine…. Salve Rome!”
