In all of the decoration and ceremony during the Pope's visit, his meeting with the President and other officials, this Papel mass was about mother teaching her 7 year old son about his faith. It meant that I had to answer difficult questions when my son asked why so many people were protesting the Pope and why he had to ride around enclosed in a Popemobile. Nevertheless, my son's excitement showed through as he waved his Papal flag that was generously given to him by an unknown bystander.

We went to the Papal Mass in Washington, DC. and sat at the very top in section 230, seats D3-4. We won the two tickets in the lottery from our church St. Francis of Assisi in Triangle, VA. 

What does it mean to be a new Catholic and see the Pope? It meant that my son and I needed to hear what he had to say.  Because my son asked "What makes the Pope so important?" So I had to explain what makes the Pope more than a picture on the wall of a Catholic home.

I explained the homily to my son as Pope Benedict spoke about forgiveness, the love of Christ and the hope of Christ in a world where so many people are lacking hope. When the Pope spoke to the Youth, I told my son "he is talking to you now." I pointed out the leadership of our Catholic Faith - the Cardinals, Bishops and nuns jumping out of their seats and running  with huge smiles and with sheer excitment to get a glimpse of the Pope (see my attached picture of bishops running to see the Pope pass).

At mass I showed my son the diversity of the Catholic Church and told him to listen to the unfailing love of the Latino community as they yelled out "Viva la Papa!"

Best part of it all - we shared in speaking the Lord's Prayer with everyone in the stadium and took communion with 46,000 people. That was AWESOME!