By Paddy Walsh
FIVE years after a memorable meeting with Pope Francis, Letterkenny woman, Mary Maguire, found herself in Rome last weekend when the popular Pontiff passed away.
“I was there for another reason entirely and it was only on social media that I learned that he had sadly died,” she said.
Speaking from the Italian capital, Mary, who along with her husband, Ciaran, runs the St Colmcille hostel in Letterkenny, recalled that meeting back in 2020.
“Along with a couple of friends, we brought the late Jim Nallen over who was celebrating his 80th birthday and thanks to Monsignor Eamon McLaughlin, the four of us each got to meet the Pope personally.
“We each spent around a minute or so with him and I found him to be a very warm and lovable person. Just so gentle.
“He had a lovely smile and I was inspired by his humility.”
Mary spoke of her mum who was 96 at the time and Pope Francis told her before they parted: “You pray for me and I will pray for you.”
The Letterkenny woman, who is also involved with the St Vincent de Paul charity in her home town, spoke of the Pope’s ministry to the poor and the vulnerable and his visits to prisons and the marginalised.
“He did so much in that respect during his time as Pope. He’ll be greatly missed all over the world.”
Mary visited the late Pontiff’s remains but was due to fly home before today’s funeral.
She did, however, play a hugely important role during the funeral mass of Pope Francis’s predecessor, Benedict, in St Peter’s Square in January 2023.
“They were looking for a female English speaker to read one of the lessons and Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, who had spent a lot of time in Rome and was a personal Master of Ceremonies to Pope Benedict, asked me if I would do the honours.
“I was so privileged and honoured to do it and I’ll never forget standing there and proclaiming the word of God to the thousands who were there. It’s a memory I will forever treasure.”
As was that brief but enriching meeting with Pope Francis in 2020.
“I was so inspired by his humility and his ministry for the poor and the vulnerable.”
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