Benedict XVI. The Voice of Ethical ReasonI have had the privilege of being with Benedict XVI many times during his pontificate: in Spain, in Rome and in Castel Gandolfo; but there is one of them that I remember vividly - I think I will never forget it - and I want to share it with you at this time when Catholicism and the whole world bids farewell to the Pope Emeritus, and not always with the honesty that his egregious figure deserves. And I do so in recognition and gratitude for the much he has given us: it is my humble tribute to Pope Benedict XVI.
Prolegomena
We go back to Saturday, August 20, 2011, in Madrid, during the World Day of Peace. Youth. That day a meeting with the Pope was scheduled at Cuatro Vientos and we went there in the morning, the two million people who arrived at the meeting place to accompany him and listen to him and participate in the events -that afternoon Niña Pastori performed a wonderful Ave Maria before the Pope-.
In the morning, having just arrived from Seville, where I was participating in a summer course, I took the subway that would take me to the esplanade where the meeting with the Pope was to be held; as I left the station of my destination, I was surprised by the scene I found: streams of pilgrims, young and not so young, women and men, from all over the world - judging by the flags they were flying - we were all walking towards the same destination: Cuatro Vientos.
The day was sunny and very hot, so hot that the neighbors of the streets through which we passed were encouraged to relieve our sweating with water in all kinds of containers, and even showered us with hoses from windows and balconies. All these selfless attentions were received with enormous gratitude. Not a cloud was to be seen on the horizon.
The numerous and diverse groups of pilgrims arrived at the esplanade and, after passing through the controls where everyone had to prove that they had an invitation to the event, we occupied our respective plots or reserved chairs. Many groups set up tents or umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun for the rest of the day. There were also tents scattered all over the esplanade where the sacred forms that would be given the following day at the communion of the Eucharist presided over by Benedict XVI and that would close the World Youth Day events in Madrid were kept with all due respect.
In mid-afternoon a small cloud appeared in the south, which did not instill any fear in people, since no weather forecast predicted the slightest incidence for that afternoon or for the next day; but the cloud grew, slowly at first and then faster and faster, until the whole sky we had in sight was completely dark and extremely threatening. Suddenly a gale arose, then it began to rain and finally a furious storm was unleashed that could well be described as a "perfect storm": the wind threatened to lift into the air the entire structure set up for the podium and the altar, in fact there were some doors and other elements that flew off. The ground was completely muddy and waterlogged, all the people's clothes were soaked with water and many could be seen praying on their knees in the mud.
Exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Due to these completely unexpected events, the comments heard everywhere were along the lines that the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, planned as the last act of the evening, would be suspended; but, suddenly, we saw the cross of the monstrance of Arfe appear on the dais, which rose, in the midst of an overwhelming silence -we were still more than a million people- until it was all there, majestic and dazzling, in full view of everyone on the dais, next to the altar. It was the monstrance of Arfe, brought from Toledo for the occasion, one of the most beautiful works of goldsmithing ever created.
I do not feel capable of describing what happened afterwards. I will only write down the facts and let everyone's imagination run wild: for a long time, all of us kneeling on the muddy ground, in absolute silence, we prayed and adored the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the monstrance, each one of us inwardly.
At the end of the ceremony, the Pope addressed us a few affectionate words, thanking us for our presence and encouraging us to rest before meeting again the next day for Holy Mass. I remember verbatim a phrase he said to us: "we have lived an adventure together." And it was true: an exciting adventure.
An explanation of the facts
I heard the priest Mr. Javier Cremades, who was part of the team of organizers of the event at Cuatro Vientos and who was present that evening, tell me that the Pope's closest collaborators insisted on suspending the exposition and adoration with the Blessed Sacrament, because they feared that some misfortune could occur, due to the damage that the windstorm had caused to the structure of the platform where the Pope was going to pray, together with the many people accompanying him -especially ecclesiastics-. But Benedict XVI, according to Bishop Javier, stood firm and gave the order for the Monstrance of Arfe to be raised and for the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to be celebrated as planned.
I also remember that Mr. Javier, in a personal capacity, told us that he was convinced that the gale and the storm of that evening in Madrid was the work of the devil, in an attempt to sabotage the event. This interpretation is by no means out of the question, remember, as I said above, that no weather forecast predicted rain for that day in Madrid.
My humble opinion on these facts is that Benedict XVI had, in whatever way, the certainty that indeed the devil had tried to sabotage the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and also that no one was going to suffer any harm, since the devil only has the power to frighten us men, but cannot cause us harm.
Physicist. High School Mathematics, Physics and Religion teacher.
