Pope Leo XIV waves to an Illinois-based pilgrimage group as he rides through St. Peter Square in the Popemobile prior to his Inauguration Mass May 18 in Rome.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
Two women from the Diocese of Davenport received the surprise of a lifetime when they learned their pilgrimage group would make a detour to St. Peter Square to attend the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV.
“We were totally shocked,” said Barbara Hall of St. Patrick Parish in Brooklyn. “It’s just something you’d never believe would happen,” having the opportunity to participate in the Inauguration Mass of the first U.S. pope. “It was very unexpected and overwhelming.”
Hall and Gail Devereaux of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Parish-Clinton were traveling through Spain, France and Italy with Totally Yours Pilgrimages of Elmhurst, Illinois at the time. The group originally planned to attend an audience in St. Peter Square with Pope Francis, but he passed away two weeks before the pilgrimage began. “We didn’t know if a (new) pope would be elected by then. We were hoping,” Devereaux, said.
Three days into the pilgrimage, white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, and Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance. “Nobody ever thought a (U.S. citizen) would become a pope. Everyone in the group was surprised and we were really happy,” Devereaux said.
Shortly after, the pilgrimage director announced to the group that a “miracle” had occurred: he secured tickets to the pope’s Inauguration Mass. Devereaux excitedly shared the news with family and friends via text messages. “It was unbelievable.”
The group stood near the back of the 200,000-plus crowd assembled in St. Peter’s Square May 18 for the Mass. They couldn’t see or hear much of the Mass but got within a few feet of Pope Leo when he traveled through the crowd in his Popemobile — twice. “Everyone went crazy when he went by,” Devereaux recalled.
Reflecting on the “awesome and humbling experience,” Hall said she feels “blessed beyond what I ever deserve. It was a once in a lifetime experience.”
