Pope Francis Brought Joy to Area Residents

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By John Burton
The throngs of people, the incalculable crowds, who arrived hours – if not days – early, were there for just a view, a glimpse – just a glimpse – and to have their faith stirred, their hearts lifted.
It was not for an elected official; it was not for a rock star, though many made that comparison. It was to see Pope Francis, the Holy Father of the Roman Catholic Church, who has been, as his name indicates, espousing the humbleness of the faith’s St. Francis of Assisi. He brought up contentious issues, but few objected.
Francis, whose papacy began in March 2013, after an initial trip to Cuba, made his fist visit to the United States in a whirlwind visit that took the pontiff to Washington, D.C., New York City and then to Philadelphia where he offered his blessings, voiced his opinion and celebrated Mass.
Oceanport resident Trish Straine MacGregor, whose husband, James Straine, was killed in the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack, attended the interfaith service conducted by Francis at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. As the pope walked by her row, MacGregor reached out and shook his hand – “I actually squeezed it, twice” – and Francis responded by saying, “’God bless you’ and he moved along,” she said.
For McGregor, who is a practicing Catholic and for whom her faith is very important, said, “It truly was one of the most meaningful moments of my life,” especially given the surroundings of the memorial. “And he as the Holy Father, to acknowledge our loss, our sorrow, our grief,” she said, “it touched you to the core, it goes to your soul.”
Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna had the opportunity to attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, in Washington. It was a reasonably intimate gathering as they went. “I think what was shocking, was the general reaction by the populace outside St. Matthew’s,” Menna recalled. “You could hear the crescendo, the roar, a sort of joyful enthusiasm by the tens of thousands of people outside.”

Pope Francis greeted the crowd at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall from his famous Popemobile. Photo: SIster Dianna Higgins
Pope Francis greeted the crowd at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall from his famous Popemobile. Photo: SIster Dianna Higgins

Menna, a Catholic, is a chancellor, a high-ranking membe of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, one of the Vatican’s oldest orders of chivalry. Over the years he’s seen other popes, John Paul II on two occasions in larger venues and Benedict XVI in an even larger gathering. But Menna said the response wasn’t what it was here. It didn’t even compare to presidential inaugurations.
“I expected a warm reaction,” he said. “I didn’t expect the torrent of warmth that I saw and heard.”
Mary Segers, a political science professor at Rutgers University, Newark, who is also an expert on religion and politics, said she considers Francis “A breath of fresh air,” given he’s “unafraid to talk about issues in personal terms.”
Francis appeared before a joint session of the U.S. Congress, which in itself was historic, as it was the first time and given that a century ago it would have been down-right shocking, recalling to mind the anti-papist rhetoric that was commonplace, even on the floor of Congress, Segers pointed out. But in calm, human terms he raised the contentious issues of climate change, the death penalty and immigration. “I thought it was brilliant, actually,” Segers said of the pope’s address.
“He made it clear these are issues he can’t be quiet about,” Segers said. And, “Yes, these are political issues but he raised them in sort of a non-political way.”
Previous popes have given rise to issues like these before, but “I think he communicates it better,” Menna believed. “He’s trying to articulate the concerns of so much of the world.”
Sharon Waters, a Little Silver native who now lives in Bloomfield, traveled to Philadelphia with a friend to attend a Saturday concert and Sunday Mass.
“I felt in some ways, it may sound crazy, like being in the pit of a Springsteen concert,” Waters said. “Because you get to know the people around you,” sharing a memorable, common experience as you wait for the star to appear.
“It was a moving experience as a Catholic to see all the people assembled,” waiting patiently and joyfully, “she said.
“There is just such a high interest in Pope Francis because he is making himself more accessible,” Waters said, and that was part of the draw for her, “and exciting people, Catholic or not.”
“It was a big thrill for me,” said Susan Porter.
Porter, a Fair Haven native, who now lives in New York City, simply got up very early during Francis’s visit to the city, and without tickets, went to catch the “Popemobile” and procession. Porter related that experience, “There he was about 20 feet from me in his little Fiat.
“It was a very significant event for me,” said Porter, who is a Catholic.
What she finds equally gratifying is “His message of helping others, who are less fortunate, embracing joy, something that he espouses.
“He is a great role model for Catholics and non- Catholics,” she added.
Phil Dorian, of Red Bank, attended the capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden Friday. “People were truly inspired,” he said. “It showed.”
Dorian, who is the Two River Times theater critic, said, “People were sharing stories about how they got their tickets. It was a very upbeat evening.”
Unlike Porter, Ilene Winters, Long Branch, obtained a couple of tickets for the Central Park motor procession. But she and her husband, John, wound up being so delayed by crowds and security that their efforts were for naught, missing the chance. The only accomplishment for the day was buying a souvenir for her mother-in-law.
But she wasn’t sorry she tried. “Everyone was so excited,” waiting for simply a glimpse of Francis as he traveled past.
“He seems like an incredible man,” said Winters, who is Jewish, but her husband is Catholic. “It’s just nice to see a peaceful person who’s bringing people together.