by Douglas J. Lanzo
Copyright 2025
In Memory of Pope John Paul II’s historic trip to Madrid on June 15, 1993
First published in Literary Yard (April 26, 2026 Issue)
My newfound travel friend and I
rushed from the narrow elevator doors
of our clean but simple hostel
onto the streets of Madrid’s royal avenue — Gran Vía —
into a sea of yellow-gold and white flags
gleaming light, beaming joy and streaming energy,
all emanating from the voices of thousands upon thousands
of Madrileños crying out “¡Bienvenido el Papa!”
as a white popemobile from which
a smiling 73-year-old Pope John Paul II
stood on a platform,
waving and extending his warmth and blessings
so personally to all of us,
as we cried out — spontaneously —
in adoration.
As the Pope swept by,
I felt my entire being join
the fervor of the people,
uniting in a spirit of indescribable
joy, love and thankfulness
for this humble and holy man of God,
whose calls for human dignity
had transformed Poland and many nations.
Testing my imperfect Spanish,
my voice — if not my soul —
cried out papal welcome,
and joined the Latin banners
in exclaiming: “We are yours!”
As the motorcade continued to process
down the promenade toward the Royal Palace
to consecrate a resplendent stone cathedral
two world wars and a Civil War
in the making, I could sense
a communion of earthly and
heavenly spirits —
a released blessing of the Holy Spirit —
whom this saintly man of light
had earlier beseeched
at Poland’s Victory Square,
to descend…
and renew the earth.