‘Very emotional’: Local woman misses hearing pope’s final words by minutes
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The death of Pope Francis spans far and wide — even reaching people right here in our community.
Monica Benjamin says when she woke up in Rome Monday morning her mind was on her flight home.
But on the way to catch her departing flight, she couldn’t help but notice the large crowds outside of the Vatican.
Benjamin was in Rome for work Sunday, and paid a visit to the Vatican — missing the pope’s final words by seconds.
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As a devoted Catholic of 18 years, Benjamin knows Easter Sunday draws large crowds, but they usually leave after Easter Mass is over.
“It’s very emotional and draining and surreal and exhilarating and deliberating all at once,” Benjamin says.
Benjamin planned the layover because she wanted to attend the Easter service in Rome due to her faith.
She says after getting in Rome around 7:30 a.m. Monday, she took a nap before heading over to the service.
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There was a crowd, Benjamin says, but many people went to see Pope Francis.
“He had always had open arms and to have this entire experience and to have the feeling and everything that happened yesterday and today was just it’s just surreal,” Benjamin recalls. “I just can’t put the words to it of how it feels and to have his ing is just it’s pretty shocking.”
Benjamin got to the service as the curtains closed, so she took a picture and tried to imagine the pope standing there.
She says she was able to go through the St. Peter Basilica, the Chapel, and many other parts of the Vatican.
“A whole procession was starting to come out with the bishops and everything,” Benjamin said. “And we’re just like what is that? And I was standing right beside the nuns, and I asked them, you know what was going on? They said we’re getting ready to have a special service just for Pope Francis and pray for him.”
But as of 7:15 a.m. Monday, when her flight crew was ing the Vatican for work, thousands were still there.
The news hit Benjamin when she got to work, bringing in a new wave of emotions.
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“We had ed by the Vatican, the city, the whole wall, everything at the time of his ing. And all you can do is just stop. And you just want to just cry.”
Now that Benjamin is back home, she says the reality of the trip is really hitting her.
She’s not alone as people around the world are mourning the loss of Pope Francis and reflecting on his impact.
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