My encounter with Pope Francis during the Covid-19 pandemic

On September 1, 2021, I was nominated to be part of Africa’s delegation to Rome under the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). I was excited.

Due to the stringent Covid-19 protocols, Pope Francis had invited only 10 people each from Africa, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

On D-day, we woke up fairly early in Rome, had our breakfast, and took a ten-minute walk to the venue.

At the Synod Hall’s entrance, a mean-looking pontifical Swiss Guard in a distinctive colourful ceremonial uniform demanded to see our Covid-19 certificates.

He scanned through the document and said, “no, no, non va bene.” Italian for no, no, not good and shunted me aside from the queue.

He took a look at my wife’s certificate and did the same.

I looked pleadingly at Rev Fr Henry Terwase Akaabiam, the Nigerian priest who was the then Secretary General of SECAM, to intervene on our behalf, but he looked equally helpless.

When his turn came, he was also shoved aside. The three of us were told by the Swiss Guard that our CPR tests had taken 72 hours instead of the required maximum of 36 hours.

We sped in a grey tiny car to Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital, often referred to as the “Pope’s Hospital”, in deafening silence.

It was a relief when everyone got a clean bill of health.

Moments later, the same Swiss Guard ushered us into the neatly polished elevator to the second floor, where we took our seats among the calm papal audience.

The Pope, in his resplendent white vestment, sat facing the audience.

He was flanked on the right-hand side by the Jesuit Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, General of the Synod on Synodality, who has served as Archbishop of Luxembourg since 2011.

The cardinals, in their distinctive red attire and red caps, symbolising their willingness to die for their faith, were followed by bishops in their purple vestments, distinguishing them from other clergy and marking their rank and unique responsibilities in the Church.

The following day, Sunday, October 10, 2021, the Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass for the inauguration of the Synod of Bishops.

Rev Sr Nathalie Becquart, who led the working group that Sellah (my wife) had attended the previous day, invited us to be part of the papal liturgical procession at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

On October 11, 2021, the African delegation led by the then SECAM President Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo (now Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, paid a courtesy call on Cardinal Grech at his Vatican office. The cardinal then took us to the Pope’s residence, where we had lunch with the Pope before he went to recite the Angelus prayer to thousands of the faithful at Saint Peter’s Square.

Later, two guards at Santa Marta ushered us into a spacious dining room, where we found clergy having lunch.

My eyes spotted the pontiff in his conspicuous white robes seated at the far end of the building, enjoying his meal.

Soon, a young man came to take our orders, and I ordered marinated chicken, mashed potatoes, apples, and strong Italian coffee to wash down the sumptuous meal.

It was a meal to be remembered for years to come, not only for its delicacy but also for the significance and ambiance of where it was enjoyed with the Pope present.