The Lord precedes us! A SERVICE, AN ENCOUNTER, A STORY
Six sisters from the different religious congregations of the island were invited by the Franciscan Fathers, in the Nunciature in Nicosia, in view of the arrival of the Holy Father Francis in Cyprus, with his entourage. Of course, in addition to the preparations and work to be done, given that time was running out, there was also the intense emotion that took over. And we, too, Sister Elsapaola Pudussery and Sister Aurora Castardo, had to get busy. Just think, having Pope Francis a guest at home! That honor! And it doesn’thappen every day to serve the Pope!
The Pontiff arrived in Cyprus on 2 December 2021 at the Larnaca airport and with him all the escort: the police, the guards, all his followers, collaborators and managers. Present are the Apostolic Nuncio of Jerusalem Adolfo Tito Yllana, Monsignor George Panamthundil, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mons. Selim Sfeir Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus, the Custos of the Holy Land Francis Patton. A beautiful image of the Mother Church of Cyprus, so important for the history of salvation. Upon his arrival in the Nunciature, right at the entrance, Pope Francis sees the barbed wire of separation in the last divided capital of Europe. A barbed wire that does not break ecumenical relations in this Church that integrates different peoples, cultures and traditions. A barbed wire that will not hinder the Pontiff from looking at the faces of migrants and refugees with his ecclesial sensitivity.
With immense joy we welcomed and greeted Pope Francis, kissing his hand and extending the warm welcome also from all the FMSC sisters who accompany us spiritually. We truly felt privileged to represent our Province, as well as our Religious Family! With so much Franciscan simplicity we lived moments of communion alongside the Pope, short but intense moments full of meaning.
Inside the Nunciature, where we served, we carried out simplest work that all mothers do at home: serving at the table, taking care of the Pope’s room, washing, ironing, arranging the environment. And we did all this with a lot of love and devotion. In Pope Francis room, we have prepared a small tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament. His day begins at 04:00 in the morning with two hours of Eucharistic adoration. And we knew that the Pope was there, in his room, in front of Jesus in the Eucharist.
His life, nourished by adoration and contemplation, was an opportunity for us to ask ourselves about the quality of our prayer life, about the evangelical witness we give to those who approach us. The Pope is right when he says, "without adoration and proclamation we are museum Christians". Furthermore, its simplicity, sobriety and confidentiality which cannot remain unnoticed. I, Sister Elsapaola Pudussery, who was in charge of arranging his room, in the morning, I found myself in front of a well-ordered and already made bed and everything was in its place. Moreover, everything reflected the simple style of an even simpler and more discreet person.
At home, in Nunciatura, we often found ourselves in the kitchen helping the two cooks with table service. On December 3, 2021, after the Ecumenical Prayer with migrants, on his return, Pope Francis entered the kitchen with his usual immediate greeting: good evening, how are you? how is work going? Are these two cooks good? Moreover, not only that... we were amazed and speechless when, with such simplicity, he asked for a piece of bread because he was a little hungry. Just a piece of bread. Just like at home!
We worked hard, but we were very happy to have been able to give our service and contribution so that the Pope would feel at home. And with him all the people who accompanied him. There was no shortage of his laughter and jokes, especially when he saw us a little hesitant to approach him to take a picture. The atmosphere in the Nunciature was very serene and quiet and this, thanks to the familiarity and friendliness that Pope Francis knows how to create wherever he is. Because this is his lifestyle!
On 4 December 2021, before his departure from the Nunciature, at 06:00 in the morning, the Pope celebrated Holy Mass in the Church of Santa Croce. A private Mass in which we sisters were also able to participate. We also lived this last moment around the Altar in prayer, breaking the Bread of Life. We offered all our gratitude and gratitude for the days spent net to the Pope. The final greetings before the farewell, his smile, his gaze, his presence, his last words and that barbed wire of separation. However, Francis encourages us: to go forward always and with courage! The Lord precedes us!
Thus, our service became an encounter, a story. We have personally experienced the simple and synodal style that characterizes the life of the Pope, the life of every day, life together with the most ordinary people. His sobriety of life is what we also see in public. The maxim is only une: love!
We wish to thank the Lord and our Provincial Superior, Sister Antonia Piripitsi, for choosing us for this service and for all the wonders, we experienced alongside the Pope. For us it has become a “gift”opportunity, which in turn we want to share and give back to the brothers and sisters.
With fraternal affection:
Sister Elsapaola Pudussery and Sister Aurora Castardo
