It was a very special moment to be able to see Pope Benedict VI on his recent visit to Australia, but it was an extraordinary moment for 23-year-old Sri Lankan, Sean Anthony Jesudason, who was among the chosen few to have a close encounter with the Pontiff.
Sean, who is studying in Australia for three years and has just started working, had been nominated to represent Victoria by the Melbourne Archdiocese from the International Liturgy Group (ILG), during the Pope's visit to Sydney. He was to be part of the Papal welcome group on July 17 and was also to give his testimony at the World Youth Day 2008 Vigil on July 19 which was presided by the Pope.
But "chosen" he was from among hundreds of thousands of people who were thronging around the Holy Father. For, on "super Thursday," as the media had called July 17, Sean says there was much anticipation and excitement to welcome the Pontiff when suddenly and unscheduled, 16 of them from ILG who had been part of the stage-welcome team, were called upon to sit right behind the Holy Father's chair.
"The atmosphere was electrifying. We were the only people on the stage at Barangaroo at that time and we kept telling ourselves this can't be. We were previously only going to cheer His Holiness on as he stepped down from the Pope-mobile to the stage," he says.
As the Sydney 2000 docked at Barangaroo and the "small yet glorious figure of the Holy Father" ascended the stage, it was "an intense moment" and the first feeling that came over him was a sense of peace and calm. Here was a man of holiness and of utmost humility, says Sean. After the blessing, the Holy Father had unexpectedly come round to the back of the stage and thanked the choir and the conductor. Describing the "most amazing moment" Sean who could hardly believe his eyes says the Pope thanked them. "I reached out to shake his hand, and His Holiness just held my hand in a tight grip for a few seconds. I was speechless. His smile was the biggest blessing for the sixteen of us. He left us each with a beautiful gift of a rosary blessed by him," says overjoyed Sean who is an old boy of St. Peter's College, Colombo 4 and parishioner of St. Mary's Church, Dehiwla.
Sean also did Sri Lanka proud when he gave his testimony loud and clear in Sinhala, before 200,000 international pilgrims from the farthest corners of the world, 200,000 young Catholic Australians, around 1,500 priests and religious, 600 bishops, 30 princes of the church, at the evening vigil at Randwick Racecourse.
"The ILG comprising 140 young men and women from 70 different nations, is not very well known," says Sean in an e-mail, explaining that during the Pope's visit his specific responsibility earlier was to be a flag-bearer for the opening mass, part of the stage welcome for His Holiness on his arrival and as a gift witness in giving testimony at the evening vigil.
According to Sean the preparations were both spiritually intense and involved much physical activity. "Every moment was a spiritual encounter, even walking through Sydney streets with banners and flags, conversations with curious bystanders on buses and trains and even tired yet friendly police officers," he says. Sean who has a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Media is currently working at Deakin University.
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