Editor’s Note: Stephen Smith spent two years from 2022 to 2024 in Rome as the director of liturgical music at the Pontifical North American College. The following is a reflection on his encounters with Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88.
The first time I met Pope Francis was in January 2023. The faculty and seminarians of the Pontifical North American College had a private audience with Pope Francis in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. I was also joined by my wife, Elizabeth, and my one-year-old daughter, Briella.
We were seated in the front row with the other faculty. As soon as Pope Francis walked in, he walked straight up to my daughter, Briella, and greeted her in Italian. Once he reached his chair, he joked, “Is she also a seminarian?”
Pope Francis then gave a short address in which he talked about three elements that he feels are essential to priestly formation: dialogue with Jesus, communion with God and the body of Christ, the Church, and living a life of mission, sharing the presence and love of Jesus to all we encounter.
Following the talk is when we all greeted him personally. My family had about a minute with him. He first asked the photographers to turn off the flash because of the baby. Then he shook our hands, gave a blessing over Briella, and then played with her for a little bit. He also motioned to one of his assistants, who brought over a beautiful white pearl rosary that the Pope gave to Briella. He was warm, gracious and kind.
While he was greeting others, Briella kept wanting to walk around, but we were keeping her contained. One of the Pope’s assistants motioned to us that it was OK to let her walk around, so we let her go and she walked right up to Pope Francis and stopped before his chair, where he greeted her again.
Finally, as Pope Francis was leaving, he walked right up to us and greeted Briella one final time.
The second time I met Pope Francis was in August 2023. Pope Francis invited the first-year seminarians (of the Pontifical North American College) to a private audience, just weeks after they arrived in Rome to begin their studies. I was able to accompany the first-year seminarians for this meeting.
Pope Francis spoke to the seminarians without any notes or a pre-written speech. He spoke sincerely and from the heart. It was a moment that I really saw the fatherly nature of Pope Francis.
He gave practical advice about how to live in community. He encouraged the seminarians to enjoy the food, drink the wine, but to avoid drinking too much whiskey (he said with a chuckle). But most importantly, he reminded them of the importance of fostering a daily relationship with Jesus. He encouraged them to meditate on the word of God, spend time before the tabernacle, and to entrust their life to the maternal care of the Blessed Mother.
I then had the opportunity to personally greet him. He asked where I was from and about my work as a faculty member. He thanked me for my role in preparing the seminarians for the priesthood. He was personable, kind and joyful. He could have been doing many other things with his time, but he chose to take part of his day to encourage and be present to us. That left a lasting impact on me and many of the seminarians as well.
Although Pope Francis spoke to us in Italian, he ended the meeting with one sentence in very clear English, “Please pray for me.”
Stephen Smith is the director of music ministry at Westerville St. Paul the Apostle Church.
