Vatican City eyewitnesses

A moment of sadness and glory
I got home from spring break in the Amalfi Coast on Saturday around 4:30 p.m., grabbed a quick shower, and ran down to St. Peter's square as soon as I could. I walked around for an hour or so, took in the scene of so many people gathered, praying, hearing songs and prayers of different languages every few steps or so.  I had my camera, of course, and took a few pictures to remember the event, but I don't think I'll be needing the pictures to remember that night.

After an hour or so, I called my roommate Cecile and asked her to bring a rosary so I could pray while I waited for news.  She arrived shortly afterwards, and we continued to wait for news. After two hours and no update, we walked around the square to take in the scene a little more, and then saw the massive line of news cameras.  Walking by, many of them turned to film the candle in my hand, as it provided a good visual for their newscasts, and after a while we got stopped for interviews.  As more people caught on to the fact that we spoke English, we did more and more interviews, until around 9 p.m. when Cecile left for dinner.  At that point there was still no update, but the cardinals had gathered outside the basilica to lead the crowd in prayer.  I went back into the square and finished praying a rosary with the 10,000 other people in the piazza.  At the end of the rosary, I heard the cardinal leading the prayer say something about 21:37 and going to the house, and then there was a respectful applause among the crowd. I finally worked up the courage to ask the woman next to me, "Che cosa ha detto?"  "E morto," she said.  "Alle nove e trenta sette."  He died, at 9:37. 

I, along with half of the crowd, got down on my knees and prayed another decade of the rosary for him.  The candle still burned in front of me, like lingering hope.  I left the praying mass in the piazza to call my family and find out if they'd heard or not, and sure enough, they'd found out an hour before I had.  I was accosted by reporters again, this time looking for thoughts "after the death," and did a few more interviews, and then went back in the piazza to pray another rosary. 

This time, the bells of St. Peter's rang throughout the entire prayer, mourning the passing of a great man, a great leader, a great example of Christ's love in this world.  After another hour of prayer or so, I made my way through the ever increasing mass of people and left the square, six hours after I'd entered it earlier that evening.  I stopped to get some gelato on my way home, and pondered the question that had been asked of me so many times that evening with cameras shoved in my face: "Are you sad?"  For JP2?  No.  I'm more glad for him than anything.  He's spent his entire life working towards that night.  That was his moment of glory.  After 26 years of service (and then some, before he was pope) to the people of this world, he finally received his reward. 
--Kelly Bulla, Madison, Wisc./Rome

My father and I were very fortunate to have been present in St. Peter's square when the Holy Father passed away.  We had just finished praying with close to 100,000 people, and were gazing at the light coming from his private apartment when we heard the announcement of his death.  There were sudden bursts of tears all around me and I could not contain my own for long.  The crowd began singing and praying and most of those gathered fell to their knees on the cobblestone.  No one moved, no one spoke, and a group of Italian youth began singing, "Alleluia, He is Risen," a traditional Italian Easter hymn. The atmosphere in the square was surreal and peaceful.

On Wednesday I arrived at St. Peter's at 6 a.m. and there were already hundreds of thousands of people waiting in a "line" that wound around side streets of the Vatican.  We guessed that we would wait around 6 hours before entering, it turned out to be nearly 13!  I kept asking myself, "Is this worth it?" It wasn't until we finally entered the basilica, tired and dehydrated, that I was able to answer, "Yes, it was definitely worth it!" 

John Paul II is the only Pope I have ever known in my 25 years on this earth, and he has been my inspiration for as long as I can remember.  My life, my faith, and my hope for the future have all been shaped by this man.  It was worth waiting for 13 hours to say goodbye. 

I paused briefly in front of his body, which was once so full of vigor and joy, and I remembered my personal meeting with him this past December, when he grasped my hand and looked at me with eyes full of love.  I experienced the love of Christ when I looked into those eyes. 

As the Vatican guard waved me through so others could pay their respects, I said a quick prayer asking for John Paul's protection and guidance, and made my way out of the Basilica.  It was a day I will never forget. Thank you, Holy Father, for all you have done for your children.
--Eleanor Pilon, St. Paul, Minn./Rome

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