"The Papal Boat", part of the Papal boat-a-cade. Photo courtesy of Manny Placido. "Hi Mar and Irene,
I joined the many pilgrims yesterday to see the Pope. It was just a fantastic experience to just be there amongst the crowd. To see so many young people have the kind of faith that they have is very uplifting. It makes you think that "Hey, the next generation will be in safe hands after all".
I went with my friend Lorna. We had tickets that got us inside Barangaroo. We were supposed to go to Gate 1 which was at the end of Kent Street at the Rocks. It should not really have been a long walk but because we did not know where the entrance to each gate was, we ended up taking the longest route passing through all the gates, ie. from Gate 25 (I think) down to Gate 1.
Nonetheless it was a pleasant walk, as we were greeted warmly by the many volunteers. Along the way, we met friends who were actually volunteers. There was actually one volunteer who told Lorna and me, "You are nearly there..." I told Lorna, "We must look very tired to her". :)
We walked with the pilgrims who were singing songs, cheering and chanting. How I wished I knew the songs.
When we reached our designated area which was Gate 1, Area A, Section 7, we saw a Filipino contingent. Lorna and I went across to them and spoke to a group of young boys aged 16 and over. They were calling us Titas (Aunties) and were telling us their experiences so far. How they are feeling the cold and how they did not know initially where they were going to stay as the school they were billeted had double bookings. So from Bossley Park, they were moved to Meadowbank. Some members of the group were asleep but the boys we were talking to were very jovial. You knew that they were happy to be part of such a momentous event.
I was told that the Philippines had 2700 delegates to WYD, bigger than the number of delegates from the rest of the Asian countries combined. The Cross, I was told, originated from UST and that the Pope mobile was made in the Philippines. At least this was what my Tita Pat said.
The crowd, arriving at Barangaroo, got bigger and bigger. Being young, they were noisy but you can say it was a happy, friendly noise if you know what I mean. There were nuns (some looked really young) and priests (good looking ones I must say).
With the crowds increasing, Lorna and I were worried about not being able to quickly get out when the Pope leaves so we decided to leave the area even before the Pope arrived and find a good vantage point instead. And we did found one at Argyle Road, atop Hickson Road.
From there we could see the stage, the big screens and heard the songs, etc. There was a big crowd where we were too, mostly office workers in the area, police, children with their mums, young adults and many more.
When the Pope arrived, everyone cheered and though we may have been in a different area, we knew that we were one with the crowd. We participated in the prayers, in the singing, in everything.
I may have switched off a bit when the Pope was delivering his speech as I could not hear some parts. When the Pope blessed the crowd, you have this feeling that you were really among those people blessed.
We knew the Pope was going on his Pope mobile along George St, but from where we were standing, Lorna and I really did not know where to go. We just decided to go to George St from Argyle St. Lorna had a bit of a sore leg so in my attempt to get to George St, I ran as I've never run before and in doing so, I unintentionally left Lorna behind. And you know what, just as we reached the end, the Pope passed. I thought that was amazing and I was waving like a lunatic.
Believe it or not, the Pope mobile was speeding (no speeding tickets issued though) but I think it was because they were behind schedule. It was a fantastic experience and I am just glad I was part of it.
I saw Pope John Paul when he was in Sydney. I don't remember what year that was but I was working in North Sydney then. He was in the Pope mobile and I saw him from our office window. Though I may have been far, you still felt his presence. I guess Pope John Paul had a special aura about him.
Anyway, I consider myself blessed that I got to see them both right here in Sydney!"
:) Nanette
(Barangaroo is located in East Darling Harbour, to read the full text of the Pope's speech, click here.)
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