Vatican: It was as if Mother Teresa’s soul had seeped into each and every one of the millions that had gathered at St Peter’s Square. For a few unbelievable hours, it was as if the world had evolved, had become one, had magically transcended the lethal squabbles that have come to define our mundane existence. Or else, just when the Mother was declared a saint, why would a man from Kosova spring from his seat and hug me, a complete stranger. And why did I, who had never taken kindly to such exhibitions of closeness, feel happy? I had been to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican more than five times.
Pope Francis passes in front a portrait of Mother Teresa at the end of a canonization ceremony.
But today’s visit would forever be etched in my mind as it was indeed a special day in my life. I think there must have been a million passionate people who stood soaked in love and peace. It was as if the whole world had descended upon St. Peter’s Basilica. There was a sea of humanity at the Square, thousands of them from India alone. Everyone who gathered there stood for togetherness and against hatred and war because here was a person who stood for love and passion. Beyond that, Mother asked everyone to love their enemy and neighbour with the same vigour. The gathering was far more than a biblical mass showing the conscience can be right if we think beyond caste, creed, religion and borders.
Pope Francis blesses a nun of the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity.
The overall feel was of massive hope that peace can still be right when global communities of the world being divided, civil war being fought in many parts of the world, people killing each other for no reason. I felt that the mood at the Vatican today was largely of compassion, love and caring for the world as well as caring for each other. There was an overall feeling that the world had come to a standstill at the St. Peter’s Square. When Pope Francis declared Mother a saint, which was the first function, a huge applause erupted. I have never seen such a scene where each person who gathered there gushed with pride. Some parts of the Mother were there in each person who gathered at the St. Peter’s Square. There was a ‘personal connect’ between each person and Mother then, when she was ordained as a saint.
BJP national executive member Alphons Kannanthanam with Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K. Mani at the St. Peter’s Square.
I was sitting at the Indian enclosure with people from Macedonia and Kosova next to us when Pope Francis declared Mother a saint. The man from Kosova who hugged me hardly spoke English, but he could connect with me. He must have realised that I am from India. It was such a dear moment. In fact, the Indian enclosure was closest to the altar that we were hardly 50 feet away from Pope Francis. We were right in the middle and the feel in the air was of a spiritual feeling. The Indian contingent was led by Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and had Lok Sabha members K. V. Thomas, Anto Antony, Jose K. Mani and Conrad Sangma, Goa deputy chief minister Francis D’souza, Union food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Catholic Bishops Council of India secretary general Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas.
Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal George Mar Alanchery and External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj pose for photo with nuns of Missionaries of Charity.
If someone dropped a coin, it would have reverberated on the St. Peter’s Square as it was such was a solemn and peaceful function which was held with finesse. It was for the first time that only a saint was canonised as usually half a dozen would have been ordained. In fact, Pope Francis has shown the world where Mother Theresa stands. He also wanted to tell the people that Mother is very special. The Pope spoke about compassion to be shown towards the downtrodden. The Pope, too, was full of love and compassion.
The Sacred Heart Church in Kumbalangi near Kochi presented 49 little Mother Teresas on Sunday signifying the 49th anniversary of Mother Teresa opting for white sari with blue border as the official attire of Sisters of Charity .
Due to his love towards humanity, he brought back a sea of change that the Catholic Church has shown that it stands for compassion. Once the function got over at 12:15 pm local time, there was a celebratory mood around. More than 500 priests came to the St. Peters Square to give communion to the people who had gathered from all over the world. It was a solemn feeling, too. On Monday morning, Sushma Swaraj, along with three others from the Indian contingent, would be meeting Pope Francis. Usually he meets only one person at a time. But he was firm that he wanted to meet at least three from India which shows his love towards our country.
This was the biggest event I had ever attended and memories would linger with me forever. I am now a changed person as I think I can be a lot more compassionate, show lot more kindness. At the end of the day, we are here to share and deliver things. I believe am a man of action and I would work for all types of people irrespective of caste, creed and religion. My wife, Sheela, has been working as a volunteer at Mother’s orphanage in New Delhi. When my younger son Adarsh who is now a philanthropist had drawn a painting of Mother at a young age of 13, it was widely appreciated. Fortunately I could work with Mother on numerous occasions in Kolkata.
(Alphons Kannanthanam, formerly with Indian Administrative Service, is at present a member of the BJP national executive.) As told to Cynthia Chandran
