Saturday, 26th September, will go down in the history of the church of the Child Jesus in Prague and for all the other churches throughout the world that bear this title. His Holiness, Benedict XVI, arrived in Carmelite Street and was welcomed by a great crowd who cried out "Long live the Pope."
Trumpets rang out to greet him in the little square before our church. Civil authorities welcomed him to the Czech Republic. The Pope then ascended the stairs and reached the entrance of the church where Fr Albert Wach, a member of our General Council in Rome, offered him greetings from the Superior of the Carmelite Order. We, the members of the Carmelite community in Prague, also gave him the warmest of welcomes into our midst. Our church was floodlit in a festive manner. In every angle the delicate hands of the Sisters had created flowering gardens.
The Pope entered the church to the sound of a choir made up of hundreds of children gathered around the organ in its loft above the door. The Pope proceeded up the church blessing the crowd and caressing the children to whom special preference had been given. When he reached the altar of the Child Jesus, he paused and placed on the altar a crown that he had brought with him. This gesture is of special importance, relating to the crowning by the Pope of a religious image.
The Pope then prayed a special prayer to the Child Jesus, which he had composed for the occasion. In the sanctuary, the religious authorities offered their greetings on the part of the Catholic Church in the Czech Republic. The Pope replied to their greetings by giving an address, which I report in part:
"The image of the Child Jesus makes us think immediately of the Incarnation, of Almighty God who became man and dwelt amongst us for thirty years in the humble family of Nazareth. Divine Providence gave him into the tender care of Mary and Joseph. This thought takes us to our own families and to all the families of the world, to their joys and their difficulties. Our prayers go out to them, asking the Child Jesus for the gift of unity and concord for all families. The statue of the Child Jesus, in its tenderness of childhood, gives us also an inkling of God's closeness to us and his love. We see
how precious we are in his eyes for, thanks to him, we in our turn have become God's children. Every human being is a child of God and therefore our brother or sister and, as such, to be welcomed and respected. If only our society could understand this truth! Every human being should then be valued not for what he or she possesses, but for what they are. Without distinction of race and culture, the image of God shines in the face of every human being."
The time flew. The visit lasted around a half-hour. The "Pope-mobile" was already waiting in Carmelite Street to take the Pontiff through the city streets to continue his visit to the Church of the Czech Republic. Leaving our church, the Pope greeted and blessed the children while the crowd remained on the street. He made happy many of the faithful, who had even come from Australia and Japan. They could find no words to express their joy at having kissed the Pope's hand.
Whom should we thank for this great event? Some months ago it was announced that the Pope would make a visit to the Church of the Czech Republic. Mons. Diego Causero, the Apostolic Nuncio in Prague, comes nearly every Sunday to our church to join the people who attend the Italian Mass at six in the evening. He began to wonder why a visit by the Pope to the church of the Child Jesus was not included in the Pope's visit. He telephoned Rome and not only was the visit included in the program, but also the meeting with the civil and religious authorities at our place, as we have just described.
When we received the news we were overcome with joy. No effort, prayer or expense was spared in our preparations to make the church worthy for this event. Our Prior set in motion carpenters, electricians and builders, who worked into the hours of the night. On the evening of Friday 25th, the police and their dogs arrived to guard the church, while the flood-light technicians and carpenters continued their work of preparation. At 9 a.m. on Saturday 26th, the people were admitted into the church under the control of the police. We prepared to receive the Pope by prayer and reciting the corona of the Child Jesus. Reporters from the newspapers and the mass media spread the news throughout the world.
We have received congratulatory Emails from every continent. The Pope's visit will certainly increase devotion to the Child Jesus. Together with the Child Jesus we are thankful to the Holy Father for his visit, a cause of joy for all who are devoted to the Infant of Prague. Greetings and every best wish, with the blessing of the Baby Jesus.
