‘I was an altar boy for the Pope’
Local
Vicar General Father Dean Marin never met Pope Francis but he did meet one of his predecessors when the Polish pontiff came to Adelaide 39 years ago.
“I had the wonderful opportunity to meet John Paul in 1986,” he told ABC Radio’s Deb Tribe on Saturday morning.
“We had the big mass at Victoria Park and I was newly ordained priest at the time and they needed some extra priests to serve on the altar, so I was an altar boy for Pope John Paul the second. I had the opportunity of meeting him and shaking hands before the Mass.”
The attendance by leaders of other churches at the Sunday memorial Mass at St Francis Xavier cathedral was a reflection of the global status of Pope Francis he said.
“It’s a wonderful thing for us that the pope is recognised beyond our own church as well.”
Pope Francis embraced and included Catholics right around the world, moving away from a European and western focus he said to create a universal church.
“It’s really interesting the Pope Francis has broadened the church appointing cardinals all over the world, in Mongolia and Asia pacific, New Zealand, Tonga and Cardinal Mykola Bychok (in Melbourne).”
The conclave to appoint the new pontiff, which will begin after the nine days official mourning following the pope’s funeral, promises to be fascinating he told ABC radio.
“I truly believe the elected pope will be the right person. I am always hopeful that the Holy Spirit will lead the cardinals to choose the right man for the right time.”
Jump to next article
