My remembrance of the two newly canonized popes

CEBU, Philippines - Prior to the declaration by Pope Francis that Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II are surely in heaven (“canonization”), some Filipinos were featured on TV and in other media for having had encounters with Pope John Paul II during the latter’s two visits (in 1981 and in 1995) to our country.

I would like to share my not-so-close encounters with these newly canonized Popes. I was an SVD seminarian in Rome when Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council in October 1962. I cannot forget the Pontiff’s words to us gathered at St. Peter’s Square in the evening of that momentous day: “Look, the moon is joining us in our celebration!” Pope John XXIII is usually described as “the good Pope.” I prefer to describe him as the “ever-smiling Pope.”

About ten years after Pope John Paul II’s visit to Cebu, I received my dispensation from the obligations of celibacy. His name is mentioned in the second paragraph of the text:

“Dominus Agustin L. Sollano, a priest of the Archdiocese of the Name of Jesus from Cebu requested for a dispensation from priestly celibacy.

“His Holiness, John Paul, by Divine Providence Pope II, on February 12, 1991, after the motion/proposal about the case has been had from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, assented to his request in accordance with the following conditions…”

May St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II please pray for me and my family, as well as for the pupils and their parents, guardians, and teachers in my school, the Ocaña Learning Center, Inc. (OLCI).