When I entered Saint Peter’s Basilica, I was a 16-year-old student traveling with a school group. Although I went in with no knowledge of Catholicism or the pope himself, I left with my perspective changed and a drive to understand and help address the devastation the world is facing.
It
was our last full day on our Italy trip, April 11, and we were under clear instructions on the day’s agenda. After first touring the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, we made our way over to the official entrance. As I walked through, I became entranced by a world I never knew. Unlike many, I had never grown up surrounded by a religion or been aware of the culture. I had no idea what a saint or apostle was or who they even were. I was slightly ashamed knowing I know nothing about the
history of it, plenty of people will work their whole life to go to the Vatican; but I, a girl who knew nothing about its significance, found myself standing at the center.
When reaching the basilica, we were surprised to hear that instead of simply touring as we had initially intended, we would be attending a prayer vigil for peace that Pope Leone XIV would be leading. Our plans changed quickly after this sudden change.
I soon found myself fighting through crowds of people, all swarming to the basilica. As I walked in, I almost felt paralyzed by the change in atmosphere. My school trip across Italy had led me to visit numerous churches and cathedrals, but none of them could compare to how beautiful Saint Peter’s Basilica was.
It was the pope’s last event in the Vatican before his month-long tour in Africa, so before he entered for the
prayer vigil, he gave a speech outside the basilica. His speech was in Italian, and at that moment, it hadn’t occurred to me to try to translate it; it wasn’t until after the trip that I made this effort.
“We want to say to the whole world that it is possible to build peace, a new peace,” Pope Leo XIV said in his speech, “(It) is possible to live together, all people, of all religions, of all races, that we want to be
disciples of Jesus Christ united as brothers and sisters, all united in a world of peace.
After his speech outside of the basilica, surrounded by other church officials, he made his way inside where a crowd awaited him for a prayer vigil.
Throughout the gathering, song verses were sung and speeches were made in between them. I had never attended a catholic event before,
and this specific service was performed in Italian, which motivated me to translate what they were saying. I only then began to read the speeches Pope Leo was calling out, leaving me truly changed.
“Even the holy name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death,” said Pope Leo in the speech. “Those who pray are aware of their own limitations; they do not kill or threaten with
death.”
As Pope Leo went on with his speech, I listened intently while reading, trying to understand his tone and conviction. The intent of his voice and the surroundings of the basilica made it feel entirely different than reading it in an article. I was there, and in the moment he was calling out the injustice of power and calling for change about war, I felt personally drawn to his words.
“To them we cry out: Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and... Click for the rest of the story...
