“What am I doing here?” “How long do I have to wait for Him?” Now I remember clearly smiling at all those thoughts which came to mind on the 18 of April of 2010. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen but when Pope Benedict XVI finally arrived, I was astounded. Being near the Pope was a great opportunity to ask several questions but on the contrary I was so mesmerized upon meeting him that I was left dumbfounded. When I shook his hand, his deep and genuine look turned into one of pure joy. He turned to me and asked me “and you, what are you doing?” He asked us about our current lifestyle particularly with regards to our studies. I told him that in a few days time I was going to sit for my a-level exams. He turned to me with a kind smile and told me “you’re telling me this to pray for you!”. Those were the best 20 minutes of my life. I wasn’t sure if this was a dream or not. This experience definitely changed my perception of the Pope, because many said that he was somehow arrogant but this is not true, instead he is a very shy person and blessed with so many positive attributes. I’m sure that this experience has led me to believe more in our Roman Catholic leader.
