A Kiss Goodbye
February 27, 2013
‘When I see you, I see the Church is alive.’
-Pope Benedict XVI
We made the trek to St. Peter’s Square early this morning to line up with the crowds of faithful and curious onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of Papa on his last full day in the Fisherman’s office.
We were not disappointed.
We spent 3 hours fighting through pressing crowds and stalwartly holding our position against the barricade, hoping against hope to catch a glimpse of our beloved Holy Father,
And then this happened.
And then this.
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| My son, the Pope, the Popemobile. Dreams do come true. |
Dear Pope Benedict, as I was able to say to you this morning, however inelegantly, when I looked into your eyes after my youngest son, John Paul, was handed back into my arms, thank you.
The Church is, indeed, alive.
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113 Comments
Colleen
OH MY GOSH!!!!! You are so lucky, that is beautiful!!! WOW! On his last audience ever! I am so happy for your family! What a blessing!!!! (Never enough exclamation points for something this AWESOME!!!!!)
letlovebesincere
Holy CRAP,,,,, I saw that on good morning America this morning,,,,,
letlovebesincere
Also, maybe he’ll sleep better now?
joaninordinarytime
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!! I’m SOOO happy for you, Jenny!! WOO HOO!!
Best.picture.ever.
nicolemariearts
My jaw dropped. holy cow. wow. 😀
Deb
I’m crying. That is SO beautiful! What a gift, what a grace, what a blessing!!!
Anonymous
Yes, let’s hope for a sleep training miracle!
Sarah O'C
Holy Moly!!!! your son, named for one fabulous pope, and kissed by another! Blessed be God forever, and blessed be your John Paul!!!!
Elizabeth C.
I second that!
Ellen Johnson
What a blessing! There are tears in my eyes; you must be bawling!!
Cari
That made me weepy a little bit.
And since I hate being weepy, I’ll lighten myself up with a joke:
Only a sweater and cargo pants on the boy? It must be 80 degrees there!
Heh heh heh.
Holly
I kinda wept over this during breakfast. Beautiful. We need to chat, sista. I need the whole story!
Katie
I have tears!! How beautiful! How awesome!! What an awesome gift!!
Francine
Beautiful! Not gonna lie, I may have geared up a bit. What a blessing!
Francine
Ugh. TEARED. I hate autocorrect.
Em
You are famous. I’m telling every one i know that JP got kissed by Benny! I love you and I know that this moment is exactly the reason Jesus brought you to Rome!
Em
I am telling everyone I know about this! This is the exact moment our Lord wanted you to be in Rome for! What a blessing. Love you so much.
sarahm
DANG, Jenny, you have some A-Ma-Zing luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mary
THAT IS SWEET!! GO BACK TO THE VATICAN PHOTOG’S OFFICE AND BUY EVERY SINGLE PICTURE – EVERY OUTTAKE!! 🙂
Michele Chronister
Yeah, I was going to say…papal kisses heal sleeping problems, right?
I am soooo happy for you!!! What a beautiful, beautiful memory for you!!!!
Katrina Rose
Oh. My. What a blessing!!! I cried when I saw the last photo. So beautiful!!!!
Beth (A Mom's Life)
Are you kidding me??? How awesome is that?? How totally AWESOME!
Kris
Oh, Jenny. Oh, oh, oh!! How wonderful! Wow. Something to show him when he gets older. So awesome!
mamamcdev
OH MY GOODNESSSSSSS!!!! this is so awesome, jenny! so, you have a feeling you’ll get to meet the pope, huh? God doesn’t waste much time! what a special day! uh, you might want to scrapbook that one. 🙂 love you guys and so grateful for the grace and blessing the Lord bestowed upon your family!
Anonymous
Beautiful!!!! What a gift!
Alexandra
Ahhh! My Mamma Heart is just shaking with happiness for you!
Ana
I just teared up- so amazing!!!!!!
RowdyatHeart
Tears in my eyes, lump in my throat! How beautiful and lucky you are to be there during this time!
Liz
Wow! What a blessing!!!!!
Lisa G.
I have chills!!!!!! Amazing!!! Oh I’m going to miss him 🙂
Natasha
Unreal + Beautiful!
Dwija {House Unseen}
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Totally sobbing at this. Amazing! Wonderful! Words cannot express….
Anonymous
This is absolutely amazing 🙂
Allison
Thank you for sharing this! What a spectacular memory. Aren’t his eyes so filled with serene love?
Lauren Gulde
So beautiful!!! What a tremendous blessing for your family and especially your little one. He loves us all SO much. The look on his face…. ah, the look of Jesus. Thank you for letting us rejoice with you!
Tino Tarango
This, is AWESOME!!! 🙂 Like hello, thanks for sharing!
Emily
AH! Amazing! God bless you and your family!
KMantoan
THIS. IS. AWESOME!!!!! I am so happy for you!!!!
Kathryn
Oh my. I don’t even know you and I cried some happy tears. What a precious, precious moment.
Rosie
Amazing! A. maz. ing.
Ashley Crane
Oh how incredible! I only know you through reading your blog, but this makes me feel like my family and I are blessed (and almost famous!) just through that little association 🙂
Kate
OMG Jenny! So happy for you! What a wonderful memory!
Charlotte (WaltzingM)
Our friend, Father Jerabek, shared that last picture on FB and when I saw it, I burst into tears of joy. It’s so beautiful! And then my friend, Dwija, points me towards your blog. It’s really nice to “meet” you. I draw coloring pages of saints and post them on my blog, if your boys are old enough to enjoy that kind of thing yet.
Emily Davis
I am awestruck!
I don’t know what to say.
I just found your blog through a friend who posted this on FB and now I wish I knew how to follow your blog.
I am going to say WOW again.
Blessings
Emily
Las Vegas Mama
Whaaat! How in the world did you ever capture such AMAZING photos of this event???? I mean, for it to happen at all is rare enough but to get PHOTOS of it??? WOW WOW WOW!!!!
Mama P
This is just… everything. Just everything. I can’t even begin. The look of complete love on his face and the joy you must have felt! How wonderful you were able to capture this memory on camera!
priest's wife
wow! That baby is so blessed!
Lena
Beautiful & blessed. DEO GRATIAS!
Ashley
I have goosebumps! So wonderful.
Tamara
That is so wonderful! What a beautiful consolation to always remember!
Jamie Jo
Here from Waltzing Mathilda’s—just have to say, Awwwwwwwwwwww!
Kate
I can’t stop reading this post. So happy for your family!
Paige Kellerman
Oh my gosh, that’s wonderful! Priceless,priceless pictures…:)
Debbie
Amazing. Just amazing!
Christy from fountains of home
Ahh! Jenny!! I can’t believe that happened!! I think I would cry for days if the Pope picked up my baby I’d be so happy! And the pictures turned out so well!
I think this sweet boy who’s named after one pope who’s going to be a saint, and who was picked up by the next pope who’ll probably be a saint should sleep through the night until he’s 18!
thisfelicitouslife
I’m here from the link on Joannie’s blog. So beautiful. I am tearing up. Thank you for sharing!
Sarah
Oh! My heart!!!
Grace in my Heart
I landed here via Building Cathedrals and I just had to let you know that your photo brought tears to my eyes! How beautiful!
I read back to find out why you were in Italy and I just love your story. I also have two young boys so I admire your courage and willingness to take them all around. What an experience of a lifetime! When you also wrote how you hoped to find friends I was thinking- I want to be her friend!…haha, but sadly sorry, I don’t live in Italy. Darn.
Best wishes from a new reader. 🙂
Robina
what a blessing.
Jennifer @ Conversion Diary
WHOA!!! That is amazing! What an incredible picture, and an incredible moment.
Kendra
Oh I’m crying! CRYING!
What a beautiful moment for your family. I’m so happy you have these pictures too so you can treasure this memory forever. God bless Papa Bene and your family.
Natalie Trust
Like the many others here, I had tears streaming down my face. I was received into the Catholic church last year, and have currently been sharing about my spiritual journey on my blog. Finding this post was a blessing in two ways:
1) I don’t know many Catholics and so with the resignation of the Pope, I have felt alone in mourning his loss. All these commemts that have been left are SO encouraging.
2) I see the heart of Jesus in these pictures. Such pure and undefiled beauty will be forever etched in my mind.
Thank you so much for sharing such a special, sacred moment!
Catholic Cookie Jar
Love, love, love it! This is absolutely amazing! So, so beautiful! I am so happy you and your family were able to experience that moment!
Anonymous
I had never been to your blog before yesterday, but a friend linked to these photos–amazing. I started crying when I saw them and basically haven’t been able to stop now! God bless you and your family!
October Rose
Oh my gosh. This is amazing. I am crying. How beautiful.
Nikita Unverzagt
That is so awesome, I should say there are other pictures of your little one, if you wish here is the link to where there are more pictures of your little one: https://picasaweb.google.com/112407169220406085709/PopeSLastAudience?authkey=Gv1sRgCOvHyITo37OiOQ&feat=flashalbum#5849630645151628786 One of the Dominican Friars Fr. Pius was taking pictures and some our of your little one! It must of been an awesome moment.
Hilary
Bawling. This is beautiful.
[email protected]
I am just catching up with my blogs after our move.
And, um, oh my pope!
I am so happy for your family.
That’s pretty much the coolest story I have ever heard.
I have been bragging about you all day!
Angela
WOW! That is amazing…what a blessing!! And a memory to last a lifetime!
[email protected]
This is so so beautiful. You and your family are so blessed to have this happen to you.
And the fact that you captured it on film too….omg as a wannabe amateur photog, it just makes me squeal.
Angie
This took my breath away! What a blessing!
Elizabeth C.
Clicked in from Waltzing Matilda…
I hadn’t teared up until this. What a great blessing for your family, but most especially your John Paul.
Kendra Tierney
Hah. Yours is a truly extraordinary moment. I posted a picture at the end of my post today about when the exact opposite thing happened to me. Pope Benedict was awesome, but my baby wouldn’t have it. It’s been such a treat to watch these momentous events through your family’s eyes. Thank you!
Anonymous
Beautiful! Best blessing ever! 🙂
Lee
EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!! <3
TracyE
OH wow. I’ve kept it together all day and then THIS. Ugh. heart in throat. Just SOOOOOO, PAPA. Personified. God bless. I’m curious as to how long before you wash your son’s head, because I don’t think I could. Ever. I’m linking this to my 7QTs tomorrow, it’s just so preciously heartwarming!!!
TRICIA
Wow, wow, and wow! Too amazing for words!
Morgan
oh my goodness.
the pure joy on Papa Benny’s face made me cry.
what a blessing and dream come true for mothers/mothers-to-be/hopeful-someday-mothers everywhere!
BlancaTherese @ Catholic in the City
What a blessing, and what great photos!
Erin
Totally covered in goosebumps!!! How absolutely amazing!!!!!!
michelle @ this little light
I have GOOSEBUMPS!
Theresa
Um.. Crying.. Like CRYING crying… I saw this photo plastered all over Facebook yesterday! What an extraordinary moment that your family will cherish forever.
Billie Jo
Oh my! I am here from Colleen’s blog, and I am crying! That took my breath away…I am speechless…So very happy for you all!
Megan T.
Dave and Jenny, what a special blessing for you and your son! God bless your family!
Dan T. (Dave’s classmate from CTL)
Kim
Goosebumps and tears! What a blessing!!
Christie
This brings tears to my eyes this morning. How beautiful.
assortedjoys
That is amazing!!!! What a gift! And your baby’s name is John Paul to boot! Did you tell them that? How fitting – B16 came into that square most likely after kissing his friend and former Pope JP good bye and now gives the new generation of the church, a baby named John Paul, a kiss on his own way out. God truly works in amazing ways.
Modest Mama
I am totally speechless. Beautiful.
Jennifer
Oh my gosh! Came to here from Conversion Diary’s link – and I had to call my mom and read/tell her this story – what a wonderful gift. Incredible pictures!
Amy
OH WOW. Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!! It made me tear up it’s just so special and so beautiful.
Allison
That is so amazing. What a blessing! I’m so happy for you that you got pictures to treasure this moment.
Becky
Also came here from Conversion Diary’s link. So, so, so happy for you!!
Erica S.
What a blessing! Amazing!
Lisa
A-mazing, and so beautiful! I would be posting this til kingdom come.
tricia
this is so amazing and beautiful!!! what an incredible gift!
Megan
Every time I see these pictures I cry. Yes, that means I keep coming back to look at them repeatedly. I couldn’t be happier for you. Much love!
Anonymous
i can’t BELIEVE this! it’s so very amazing! i’m so VERY excited that you were able to be there AND get it all on film!!! to have your little one blessed by any pope is an amazing thing. to have him blessed by the pope on the last full day in “office” is even MORE amazing! i cried when i saw this on my tv. i’m crying again reading about it and seeing YOUR pictures of it happening! maybe someday, your little one will be blessing another baby named benedict in that same place!
Martha Reilly
CRYING! Oh my goodness!
Laura M
Wow. just wow…
Ashley
AMAZING!!!
Sarah Thérèse
Oh. My. Goodness! What an incredible gift! Thanks be to God! I am crying at the last picture… His joy and that smile! Beautiful! Praise the Lord!
Anonymous
goosebumps!
theresa EH
WOW!!!!! How amazing!!! I would be emailing this to your local paper!!! now this is good news eh!
Anonymous
I am crying looking at this picture! I could not bring myself to watch TV because I am just so sad about him leaving. But thank you soooo much for sharing these beautiful photos!!! My heart is still sad but grateful for this awesome, humble, holy man. Thanks to conversiondiary for the link!
Sally L. Smith
Though I am not Catholic, I have respected and admired this Pope
and this is only one of the many reasons. What a blessing.
Anonymous
oh man, oh man, oh man. NOW I am officially blown away! A day to remember through the generations for you . God bless you! See, you named him JOHN PAUL, and God blesses you!
Christine
Ahh – just now seeing this, due to my Lenten internet fasts. Beautiful, beautiful!! I would have cried as well! And it’s so wonderful that you have pictures of it too 🙂
benedicamusdomino
I am long time lurker and I believe first time commenter. I found you through Grace’s blog and I was hooked from first read. Anyway, I was showing my husband Dave your incredible pictures and he wanted to know who you all were and once he saw a pic of your family he said, “Oh hey, I went to Trinity with Dave. He was in my class.” SO with this small world connection, I am hoping you all will be completely cool with us coming to crash at your sweet little appartamento (you know, just us and the four kids). And in exchange I will gladly get up with JP in the evenings. Thanks in advance!
Hillary
I know we’ve been over this a million times, but this picture makes my heart burst with joy whenever I see it. I am so so so happy for you and Dave that you’re over there right now! Love you sissy!
Being Refined
AMAZING!!!! Oh my goodness!!! Such beautiful photos.
Cathy M~(checkitoff)
How AMAZING!! And your pics are great!!! hugs, cathy
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