A Papal Audience with His Holiness Pope Francis

by The Very Reverend Terrence Lee Weber, STS, KTJ

from LF Winter 2019

Shortly after the commemorative medal for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, designed by The Reverend Doctor Frederick J Schumacher, STS, was produced by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, I was approached on several occasions to see what influence I might exert to get this medal directly into the hands of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The medal was commissioned to commemorate the Pope’s visit to Lund Sweden to kick off the global 500th Anniversary celebration. The medal also recognized the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, signed in 1999 by the Lutheran World Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. I thought the request was legitimate, and I was honored to take part in it.

Let me offer some background as to why I was approached with this request. For the past thirty-five years, I have worked for the Archdiocese of New York, specifically as the archivist and historian for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of His Eminence Terence Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop of New York from 1968 until his death in 1983. In fact, I was appointed by His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan to be the chair of the Historical Commission. This Commission oversees the collecting, gathering, and preservation of all documents pertinent to the Cause. It was in this role that I was privileged, as a Lutheran pastor, to write the report from the Historical Commission to the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. I am still active in that appointment, as I also serve on the Advisory Committee of the Cardinal Cooke Guild.

Because of my unique ecumenical relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, I thought it an honor to do what I could to make the ALPB request a reality. In the course of time and on several occasions, I approached His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, reaching out to him in person, by email, and by letter, all to no avail. I knew him to be busy, so initially it seemed only natural that I received no answer. On one occasion when we did speak briefly, the Cardinal remarked that the prospect of presenting the medal to the Pope was interesting, though he offered no further concrete assistance or suggestions. It seemed, for the moment, as if I had hit a dead end. If anyone could help me get to the Pope, I thought, surely it would have been Cardinal Dolan.

Nevertheless, I was not done in my endeavors.  From some influential Roman Catholic lay people I received an invitation to attend a fundraiser gala in Manhattan honoring the various charities of the Catholic Church in the United States. As a result, I knew that the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, the Most Reverend Bernadito Auza, also would attend. I wanted to use this opportunity to make my request. On the evening of the gala, I made sure I arrived early so I could talk with His Excellency about the medal. We did meet. We did talk. And I did give him a copy of the medal that I wanted to place in the hands of the Holy Father. The Archbishop made no guarantees that he could do that. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable evening and the Reformation medal got into the hands of this important prelate.

There attended at the gala that night the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, the Most Reverend Christophe Phillipe. After my meeting with Archbishop Auza, I approached him with the same request. He was extremely interested in the medal and remembered well when the Holy Father went to Sweden. We chatted at some length, and then posed for pictures. I left his presence, however, believing that my request probably would go no further. At the very least, another medal had gotten into the hands of a Roman Catholic prelate. It was not a total loss.

I learned secondhand that, even before the medal was struck, Pastor Schumacher thought of approaching his daughter, Joy, who lives in Malmö, Sweden, a short distance from the Lund Cathedral. Perhaps her pastor could approach the Bishop of Sweden to see if she could arrange a presentation sometime during the Pope’s visit. As it turned out, Joy had made travel plans for a visit to the United States at the same time.

I wrote to a good friend of mine, His Eminence Edwin F O’Brien, who was a Cardinal-Elector for Pope Francis and lives at the Vatican. I asked if he might help me. He always has been ecumenically minded, and I thought our friendship over the years might just work to achieve my goal of placing into the hands of the Holy Father the Reformation medal. Because of a busy travel schedule that fall, however, the Cardinal was unable to act on my request, even though he was sympathetic to it. At one point in our discussion Cardinal O’Brien remarked, “I hardly see the Pope myself.”

For approximately two years afterward, nothing happened. The ALPB request seemed stalled; all the roads, all the connections I had tried led to dead ends. I went about my work and forgot about the medal. As I was getting my itinerary together for another trip to the Vatican in November 2019, though, I began thinking about this unfulfilled request. I really hadn’t thought about it since the charity gala two years earlier. For some reason, I thought, I would like to give it one more try. I felt very optimistic about this round of requests to see the Holy Father.

In the early weeks of October 2019, I again emailed and telephoned Cardinal Dolan and laid out my plans. It was simple: my plan was to get the commemorative medal directly into the hands of the Holy Father. I really did not care now whether I or someone else did it. I just wanted the Pope to have the medal, as it marked an important event in church history in which he had participated. Two weeks later, the Cardinal’s Office emailed me with the personal email address of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, His Excellency Archbishop Georg Ganswein. Cardinal Dolan assured me that he would also write a letter introducing my request to the Archbishop. As an aside, Archbishop Ganswein is directly in charge of caring personally for the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI. I thought, who better than the Archbishop, who sees the Pope every day?

I immediately drafted my email to Archbishop Ganswein. Days and then weeks passed. I soon was ready to leave on my trip, but had heard nothing from the Vatican. I did decide to bring the medal along with me, since, if I could not give it directly to the Holy Father, then at least I could give it to Cardinal O’Brien. Being around and in the Roman Church for over thirty years, you come to know how certain things are done. Because I did not hear from the Vatican, even on the day of my departure, I figured that was my answer. It would not happen on this trip.. 

After celebrating a beautiful mass on the Solemnity of All Saints in my parish church, my wife and I boarded our flight for Rome. We arrived in Rome on the morning of November 5 and checked into our hotel. As my wife was unpacking, I decided to check my email because I hadn’t checked it since we left New York. I discovered an email from Archbishop Ganswein telling me I would be seeing the Holy Father the next day, Wednesday, November 6, and would have an opportunity to give him the Reformation medal.

I was stunned!  I read the email over and over. Yes, I was reading the right words. Finally, after two years, my request would be met.  The Vatican email informed me where to go to get the proper credentials to be present at the Papal Audience. That evening, as we prepared to meet my friend, Cardinal O’Brien, I went to the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, and after being saluted by several Swiss Guards along the way, I was given the necessary documentation. During cocktails with the Cardinal I told him what my plans were for the next day. To my surprise, he wanted to know what number was on my ticket. Once I told him, he said, “Oh, that’s an excellent number. You’ll enjoy the Pope.” I think he would have liked to have come along, but was scheduled for an apostolic trip to Mexico the next morning.

Wednesday morning, November 6, came with the threat of rain showers in Rome. The blue sky shone brightly, only to turn overcast quickly. That’s how it was for most of the day. I arrived at St Peter’s Square early because I wanted to take it all in, and, after several security checks, I was escorted by a Swiss Guard to the steps of the Basilica. It was here that two men in mourning coats took me to my seat on the front line, the prima lina. One gentleman said as I took my seat, “Good seat!” 

Now, every Wednesday when the Holy Father is in Rome, he holds an audience in which he presents a short catechesis on some church teaching or scripture of the day. After that, the Pope greets any visiting bishops, archbishops, or cardinals in attendance.  On this particular Wednesday, he greeted about forty brides and grooms who were there to have their marriages blessed by him. After that, I was the first person to greet him. Indeed, I had a good seat!

When Pope Francis came to me, I said as calmly as I could, “Santo Padre, on behalf of the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau and Lutherans around the world, I am honored to present to you with this medal that was struck commemorating your visit to Lund Sweden to begin the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, and the 1999 Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. I am pleased to give it to you.” Then, after two years of trying to accomplish this task, I placed the medal into the hands of the Holy Father . . . mission accomplished! Now in his hands, Pope Francis looked intently at both sides of the medal, and then, pointing at the image, but looking at me, said in English, “That’s me! And that’s Luther! I remember that day. It was a good day.” We chatted briefly and then the Pope said to me, “Pray for me.” I responded quickly, “I will, but please pray for our Lutheran Church, we need the Pope’s prayers!” At that, he blessed me and gave me the gift of a rosary that I will long treasure. I stood silently absorbing it all as he made his way to the next pilgrim. In all, I was with the Holy Father for about four minutes.

I wanted to call Pastor Schumacher right then and there, but it was only four o’clock in the morning in New Jersey. In the course of the day, however, I did call him to tell him the long-awaited, joyous news. What two years earlier he wanted more than anything else was now accomplished. After listening to Pastor Schumacher’s joy, I could not help but think of Simeon’s words as I hung up the phone: “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace.” As an aside, when I was waiting to make my presentation to the Holy Father I could not help but think of how much I wished Pastor Schumacher had been standing with me to make the presentation to Pope Francis himself. Throughout his long ministry, Pastor Schumacher has always been a champion of the Reformation. He needed to see the Pope’s face when he got the medal into his hands.

Many pictures were taken that day. They will continue to remind me of the day I met with the Successor of St Peter in person.

Let me offer this reflection in conclusion. For thirty-five years, I have been engaged in some extraordinary work for the Church Universal. I could have never have imagined that my life would take this particular path. I have enjoyed every moment. During all this time, I have tried to be a good ambassador for the Lutheran Church, while seeking in any way to build bridges with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters. I have gone to the Vatican many times, but I always went as a representative of the Cause for the Canonization of Terence Cardinal Cooke or, in a few instances, the Archdiocese of New York. But, I was especially delighted this time to be at the Vatican to represent, though unofficially, our Lutheran Church as a Lutheran pastor. Whatever I have been able to do during these thirty-five years for the Roman Catholic Church, and even during these forty-one years as an ordained Lutheran pastor, I owe everything to the Lord and Bishop of the Church, Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. Soli Deo Gloria!