On my journey home last May, I stopped off in São Paulo for a few days. I was there when ‘Pope Benedict XVI’ or as he is known here ‘Papa Bento dezesseis’ arrived to celebrate Mass and meet with the Bishops of South America in São Paulo and Aparecida. I had the opportunity to con-celebrate Mass, which was very special for me. The airfield where the Mass was celebrated was not more than half an hour away from the Kiltegan central house. I travelled with Fr. Jack Rodgers and my Irish Flag. The Mass included the Canonisation of Saint Frei Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvão. The first native born Brazilian to be canonised.
When we entered we met this line of young people standing to attention, much better organised than the Military Police line which we passed a few minutes earlier. They are members of an ultra-orthodox church organisation. Their outfit reminded me of the Crusaders. They were there to help escort the priests with the distribution of Holy Communion. At one stage this group had broken away from the church but it seems under Pope Benedict they have returned.
Fr. Jack being interviewed by Joe Little of RTE. I was also interviewed by Joe and The BBC Reporter for BBC World Service Radio. I heard later that Sister Cecelia Doyle of Tara Hill and working in Sierra Leone in Africa heard my interview.
A picture of Frei Galvão at the back of the altar.
Some of the nearly 1m people.
The procession of bishops, including orthodox bishops.
Our bishop, Bishop Dom Franco of Juina Diocese. [Second on right with glasses]
Forgive the use of the Irish Flag but it was a hot sunny day and there was no shade.
Pope Benedict Arriving.
A close up. I was standing on a seat in the front row, so I was very near. The Pope's security man also helped by physically throwing a TV camera man out of the way when he got in the Pope's way.
This young boy and his parents were presented to the Pope at the start of the Mass. The young boy had a miraculous recovery from a life-threatening illness, that cannot be explained, other than it was through the intercession of the new Saint, hence his miracle was the final stepping stone in the path of canonisation.
The clergy preparing for Holy Communion.
A close up of the Pope distributing Holy Communion. The young boy in the earlier picture made his First Holy Communion to the Pope.
The massive choir in the background.
After Mass, The Pope takes his leave to go to Aparecida for the Conference of the Bishops of South America.
