{"id":122625,"date":"2024-11-05T11:45:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T10:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cgfmanet.org\/infosphere\/un-incontro-speciale-con-papa-francesco\/"},"modified":"2024-11-05T22:45:40","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T21:45:40","slug":"special-encounter-with-pope-francis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cgfmanet.org\/en\/infosphere\/special-encounter-with-pope-francis\/","title":{"rendered":"Special encounter with Pope Francis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rome (Italy). <\/strong>On 30 October 2024, a group of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians<\/em> Community of the Generalate (RCG) participated in Rome in St Peter\u2019s Square at the General Audience of Pope Francis on “Confirmation, sacrament of the Holy Spirit”.<\/p>\n

Among them, Sister Maria Sarmento Guterres, FMA of the Mary Mazzarello Province (TIN), from East Timor, had the opportunity to talk to the Holy Father personally<\/strong> and offer her thesis for a baccalaureate, which she dedicated to Pope Francis as a good communicator.<\/p>\n

Sister Maria graduated on 4 October 2024 in Communication Sciences, Pastoral Care, at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) of Rome with a thesis entitled: “Seeing, listening, speaking with the heart. The paradigm of the culture of the encounter of Pope Francis in his messages for GMCS (2021-2023)”.<\/em><\/p>\n

The emotion was great when, after the Audience, the Pope approached to greet the people present on the square, who had requested an interview with him. To each one, like a father, he devoted the time necessary to listen, address some words, and give his blessing. Sister Maria recounts:<\/p>\n

“When I was given the possibility to participate in this encounter, I couldn\u2019t believe it. It was like a dream, an event I had hoped for, but I did not even dare to imagine could happen. The emotion and anxiety mixed inside me as I prepared for that moment.<\/p>\n

I had spent months writing my thesis analyzing Pope Francis’ extraordinary way of communicating, his ability to touch people\u2019s hearts with his gaze and gestures. I never imagined that from one moment to another, I would have the opportunity to present my work to the Pope in person.<\/p>\n

The idea of meeting him, of talking to him, seemed almost surreal. I prepared myself carefully, reviewing my notes, but deep down I knew that words would fail me in front of such a charismatic man.<\/p>\n

When I arrived at the audience, the atmosphere was filled with emotion. People around me were equally excited and happy. When Pope Francis finally came, a wave of warmth and joy crossed this space, illuminated by his gentle smile, while his gaze conveyed a deep humanity.<\/p>\n

When it came time to approach, I felt a mixture of emotions. Holding my thesis and a typical Timorese scarf, I approached him. With my heart beating crazily, I began to say, ‘Your Holiness, I am a daughter of Mary Help of Christians. I come from East Timor and today I have the pleasure of presenting my thesis. I dedicated this work to you, to your exemplary style of communication’.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Pope took the thesis in hand, looked at it and leafed through it, commenting: ‘Interesting… beautiful!’<\/em> Then I asked if I could offer him my work and he thanked me from his heart.<\/p>\n

Of course, I could not leave without asking for his blessing for my country, which he visited in september 2024<\/a><\/strong><\/span> – and for our Institute. Immediately, the Pope gave me this blessing.<\/p>\n

When I left the Audience, my heart was light. I had the opportunity to share a part of my world with a truly God-fearing man. I will carry with me forever the memory of that meeting, an infinite glow of inspiration. My thesis was not just academic work, but a bridge between my aspirations to become a good messenger and the reality of a truly extraordinary communicative model.”<\/p>\n\r\n