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At 7pm on Saturday 29 April 1995, exactly 29 years ago in Trento, a white helicopter hovered over the city
Ten minutes later in Piazza Duomo the white Mercedes arrived, also with the Pope inside, applauded frantically by the crowd. Before appearing in the central square of Trento, the Polish Pope, a master of communication, had walked through some streets of Trento between two rows of moved crowds.
There were many who cried with emotion just seeing him pass through the streets of Trento. During his two days in Trento, the Pope often speaks off the cuff, quoting Alcide Degasperi, Antonio Rosmini and Chiara Lubich. His every sentence is accompanied by applause and smiles. A Pope who knew how to inflame the crowds who listen to him attentively and happily. A Pope who does not divide but unites. Perhaps the only one of our contemporary time. Perhaps the greatest of all.
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The occasion of his visit is 450th anniversary of the opening of the Council of Trent and 850 years from the consecration of the Basilica. Pope John Paul II will sleep in Piazza Fiera and the following day he will celebrate mass in front of thousands of faithful in the interporto esplanade. For Trento it is an almost epic moment, the sparkling and happy air that ran through every house testified to this.
Pope John Paul II visited the Trentino area five times, between August 1979 and April 1995, and his visits were strongly linked to the history of this land and its people.
Events that the Trentino population experienced with emotion and which left indelible memories over time and which were imprinted in the memory of the Trentino people. One of them is the image of the kneeling Pope in cImitero of Tesero in front of the plaque with the names of the 268 victims of Stava.
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There are many memories of the Pope’s two days in Trento. From the meeting with the citizens in Piazza Duomo to the recitation of the Regina Coeli, or the prayer meeting always in Piazza Duomo for the commemoration of the 450th anniversary of the council. But above all the traditional meeting with young people in Piazza Fiera which the Pope strongly desired.
There were many people who were there in those days get closer to God thanks to the Pope’s visit. And the many people from Trentino who carry the holy card of the Polish Pope in their wallets owe it precisely to that visit.
Those who remember him, even today, as he shakes the hands of Trentino people remain moved and with a lump in the throat aware of having seen in our city probably the greatest Pope in contemporary world history who many still mourn and remember with great emotion. (below the video summarizing his visit to Trento)
Exactly 10 years later, April 2, 2005 John Paul II died. He was one of the most beloved pontiffs of modern times. John Paul II was beatified on 1 May 2011 by his successor Pope Benedict XVI and proclaimed Saint on 27 April 2014 by Pope Francis. He is celebrated on the day of his inauguration, October 22nd. He is protector of Youth Day.
The suffering of the last years of John Paul II’s life remained imprinted in the eyes and hearts of each of us. In Wojtila’s face, gestures and words, all the suffering of a man who has dedicated his life to Christ and the Church, the suffering of each of us, the drama of life.
The suffering of John Paul II tore through the 20th century, leaving a testimony of faith and hope. The suffering of the old pope was never an end in itself and was never experienced with desperation and resignation.
His faith, a source of hope, soothed the wounds of his body. That Pope experienced within himself the redemptive passion of Christ and unconditional love for man. Love, suffering, faith and redemption perhaps the most important values in the life of John Paul II.
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