This is the story by which the entire Vatican lived for many months. A beggar wandered around Bernini’s colonnade, no one knew anything more about him except that he lived on alms and slept somewhere in the nooks and crannies between the huge edifices around the basilica. One day a Bishop was walking through St. Peter’s Square for an appointment with the Pope. When he looked at the beggar, he recognized him as a former priest from his diocese who, as a result of tragic experiences, had gone astray. Reaching the apartment of John Paul II, he told him about this meeting. Karol Wojtyła right away ordered the bishop to go down to the square and bring the priest to have dinner with them. So the bishop invited this neglected and completely surprised man for dinner to the Pope. He accepted the invitation and then sat at the table in silence. No one was railing or saying a word to him. They just had a meal together. After lunch, when everyone was about to disperse, the Pope spoke for the first time to the begging priest.
– I have a request, would you agree to hear my confession?
And, so it happened, the beggar confessed the great Pope as if he were an ordinary sinner.
– He never wanted people to admire him.
Andreas English
