By Angela Agoawike
Living in Europe, I had the opportunity to visit Rome many times. Of course, no trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Vatican City, which though a Catholic City State, it is visited by all, irrespective of their faith. On one of such visits, I went with an Iraqi Moslem colleague and her relatives.
On this particular visit that the ‘Vatican Police worked for me’, it was for me a religious trip, a pilgrimage, I went alone, and registered to attend the Pope’s weekly audience with Pilgrims (that was how we were addressed). It was on a Wednesday, and Pope Benedict was the Pontif, and it was January 2011.
I arrived St. Peter’s Square by 6am (as directed by the tour group I registered with), and was there as the sun rose and cast its rays on Cittal del Vaticano.
The Audience was held inside the Auditorium, and all with tickets were to be seated before the Holy Father came in. It was a lively, joyous, festive, celebratory atmosphere that we walked in to, as everyone, seated in groups, sang, chatted and made new friends. Pictures were also taken to document the moment. A family behind me was from Brazil.
The Pope came in and the audience was held and we dispersed. I boarded a tour bus to kill time before flying back to Vienna. On the bus, I wanted to take a photo, but my camera was no where to be found. I remembered that I used it to take photos during the audience, but no recollection of me putting it back into my bag.
I got down from the bus, boarded another going back to the direction of Vatican City. Getting there, `and mindful of time running against me, I began retracing my steps, the bookshops and toilets I visited, but nothing. Then it hit me: I left it on the chair. in the Auditorium…but it was not there any longer. All the photos I had taken, lost, just like that? I wasn’t sure which hurt most – losing my camera or my photos.
Then I went to lost and found to lodge a report. One of the offices I had to visit, I had to actually go to a place where I had to go through a gate manned by the Swiss Guards. The Guards were there, but not as Statues, but as human beings with empathy. They felt for me, pointed out places and people I had to approach. Thereafter, I encountered the Guards every where that I went, I asked them questions, they directed, and I would come back to ask more questions. Patiently, they responded to all of my inquiries.
Eventually with the help of the Guards, I retrieved my camera. It had been picked up from my chair after the Audience and recorded as as lost item and stored. I had to provide identification documents before it was given to me. On my way out, I stopped by the Guards station to say thank you.
With friendly smiles, they acknowledged my grateful words and one of them said to me, – ‘the Vatican Police is now working for you.’ (Unfortunately I did not get to take any photo with them)
I responded in kind – with a smile and another “thank you” very much, as I quickly left to retrieve my suitcase and head to the Airport.
In the last few weeks, the efficiency, commitment to duty and devotion of the Vatican Swiss Guards have been on display, following the death and funeral of the Holy Father Pope Francis.
As this very moment, they are still on display as the Cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel, take their oaths and the door is shut, as the Conclave begins.
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we shall await the White Smoke from the Chimney of the Sistine Chapel proclaiming to the world: Hebamus Papam, (We have a Pope).
And for the young men that constitute the Vatican Guards, their work continues and they continue to work for me, for all Roman Catholics around the world, and indeed, for all, who visit the Vatican City.
