Immediately after arriving in the airport back in '95, the holiness of the Pope was felt. I was just watching this on television when I saw it. He deliberately broke through the security line in order to bless the children dancing a few blocks away in his honor. He blessed the children. Back in '81, I'm one of those. And I'm sure the lives of those children were changed forever after that.
The media had a day with that scene. I remember one of the anchors in ABS-CBN broke down in tears in what he witnessed. But John Paul II is consistent with or without a camera present. A man of prayer is consistent with his action. Wherever he is, he manifests the presence of God.
Such is what happened the day of the World Youth Day event in Quirino grandstand in Luneta. 16 million of the Catholic faithful had gathered around Luneta park to catch a glimpse of His Holiness. To reach the altar on time, the Pope has to be choppered in.
All of us servers are waiting backstage for our cue for the Holy Mass service. The area backstage was cordoned off from the people, except for a few youth who are staying behind the line. Everybody cheered when John Paul II's chopper arrived. And he came down with his assistants and security, escorted by then President Ramos. He waved at the crowd then turned his back from us to proceed to the Mass.
Suddenly, a young girl broke lose from behind the security line and run towards the Pope. Instinctively, the Pope's security jumped in on the girl and pinned her to the ground, as a safety precaution. The Pope, his back on what was happening, suddenly turned. He became aware of what's going on. And from about 10 feet away from the incident, John Paul II went back from his walk and went to the girl. He personally picked the girl up, hugged her, then blessed her. The girl was crying when the security calmly led her back towards the area behind the security lines.
And get this, there was no camera around. No one saw the incident but us servers, and a few people backstage preparing for the Holy Mass. I remember I was still praying as I recall the incident in my head. That image of the girl being picked up by John Paul II, hugging her and blessing her, with eyes of compassion and love, will forever stay in my mind.
Such is the power of a man of prayer, clearly a man of faith, a holy man...
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