Papal Audience June 4, 2025

On June 4 Asher and I set out for St. Peter's Square for the Pope's General Audience. We each had a red ticket, which allows access to the Square. We were in line around 7:45 a.m., and the Pope was set to begin his remarks at 10:00 a.m. 

It was a warm morning, and in our rush to get out of the house, Asher did not drink anything, and I had one sip of water. We were not sure if water was allowed inside the Square, so we did not bring water. Take note that this was not a wise decision. I play back in my mind our walk down to the Square, and the little missteps we had that delayed us here and there. The crowd was thick and moving very slowly toward security, which allows you entry into St. Peter's Square. As we approached the security check, Asher began to speak to a Spanish-speaking priest next to us. To our surprise he offered us two white tickets. These allowed access to sit up on the platform next to the Pope. 

The priest not only gave us the tickets, but seemed to know his way through all the check points and brought us to the section where you see Asher seated above. It was a tremendous blessing, and the providence of our meeting with Fr. Antonio Vallejos keeps rolling over in my mind. If we had not had some missteps getting to security we might never have met him.

It had been our hope to give our Children's Rosary materials to the new Pope, but so many had told us that given he was only 3 weeks into his pontificate, access to him would be almost impossible. Yet we did not lose hope throughout the trip that we could make him aware of the Children's Rosary. During the time while we were waiting, Asher and I began to pray the Rosary. 

The Holy Father entered the Square in an open jeep. He slowly made his way around the crowd and up onto the elevated area where we were standing. Holding our Children's Rosary flag, I waved it at the Holy Father. 

After greeting some Church leaders, he took his place for catechesis. This was translated into multiple languages.

After his lesson, he went to the far side of the platform to greet recent brides and grooms. This greeting took more than an hour. Although Asher and I each had a hat, the heat was beginning to take its toll on us. We had a fantastic position at the rail. We were in the first row, and we knew if he walked to our side of the platform, we might have access to give him our materials. As he greeted the newlyweds, sometimes someone would give him a gift, and these he passed to the Swiss guards accompanying him. Asher and I resumed praying our rosary and had now started our fourth rosary. We were feeling weaker in the sun with no water, so we offered up that last rosary that Our Lord would supply for the strength that we lacked. We had just finished the second luminous mystery when I knew something was wrong. I was now draped over the rail for support, but I could feel all strength leaving. Things started going black, and then I was down. I woke up and there was a doctor bent over me and other medics around me. With my joint disability I was scared as people were grabbing at my arms and taking my pulse and other things. As I suffer from a condition that creates severe joint instability, I knew that such manipulations could dislocate joints. The doctor poured water in my mouth, and this revived me. I was determined to return to my place on the rail. We had a miracle in receiving the tickets, and I did not want something to ruin this. However, the doctor was kind but firm that I needed to go to the Vatican ER. Although I knew it was not a good idea, the men around me pulled me up by the arms. I could tell my left elbow was injured from this, but given I had fallen to the ground, I was remarkably uninjured from the fall. The dense crowd and Asher had cushioned my fall. 

Asher wanted to come with me, but I told him it was fine to stay at the rail. Several Italian speaking men carried me in a wheelchair down the many steps to the Vatican ER. There I found a German medical team. They spoke English and were most gentle and caring. They gave me more needed water, gave me an ice pack, and let me rest. I realized that I had no way to reach Asher as he has a cell phone but I did not. After about 30 minutes he appeared at the door to my relief. 

He would share with me that the Holy Father had walked near him and had looked directly at him twice. Asher was holding our Children's Rosary materials in his hand and the Holy Father gestured to the Swiss guard to take the materials. Asher gave our materials, which included our Children' s Rosary book, Child Consecration book, A Soul Prepared through Suffering book and our Children's Rosary informational flyer. 

When we reached the place where we were staying, we were exhausted but also overwhelmed with joy. Asher saw a message from the Holy Father's sacristan who we had by chance met three days earlier. He confirmed that he had given our materials to the Holy Father. Thus in just a few days, the Holy Father had received our materials twice! We went to Mass later that day, and we were surprised to hear the Gospel was the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana. This was the last mystery we prayed before I collapsed. I could see that indeed Our Blessed Mother had taken care of us. There was suffering but also great joy. The impossible, it seemed, was possible.