Four decades ago, a ‘meeting’ of two saints in Old Goa

A file photo of the late Pope John Paul II and then rector of Basilica of Bom Jesus late Fr Vasco Rego SJ at a private Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier, during the pope’s visit to the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa on February 6, 1986.

It was a unique meeting exactly four decades ago, when a future saint came face to face with another saint, the ‘Goencho Saib’ St Francis Xavier, at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.

This singular event had taken place on February 6, 1986, when Pope John Paul II – who was later canonised on April 27, 2014 – had addressed the priests of India, while on his short visit in Goa. Earlier in the day, Pope John Paul had presided over the concelebrated Holy Mass at the Campal grounds and tens of thousands of people from across Goa and beyond had participated in the Eaucharistic celebration.

Then rector of Basilica of Bom Jesus late Fr Vasco Rego SJ welcomed Pope John Paul II at the Basilica on the evening of February 6 and escorted the pope, as he waved to a large number of nuns waiting outside the Basilica and spoke to a few of them.

Priests from the Archdiocese of Goa and surrounding dioceses had packed the Basilica, eager to hear the Pope’s words of greetings, while those along the front lines of the middle passage were also able to kiss the Pope’s extended hand.

After a brief prayer before the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, Fr Rego then led the Pope to the glass-case of the Relics of St Francis Xavier. It was a private Exposition as the Relics had been specially brought down and placed just in front of the old Main Altar, touching the western window.

“We were fully aware that John Paul would not be standing before the incorrupt body of a saint (he may have seen several well-preserved others in Europe), but before the relics of that once-incorrupt-body of St Francis Xavier, Patron of all Missions and an outstanding example, particularly for priests, of a passionate love for Jesus and of heroic apostolic zeal,” recalled Fr Rego in 2014.

“I briefly explained to him the irresistible attraction these Relics had, even some 500 years after Xavier’s solitary death in Sancian, for teeming millions of Christians and persons of other faiths, from India and abroad. Particularly, the Novenas preceding the Saint’s Feast and the Solemn Expositions of the Relics did not cease to draw, especially with the modern means of transport, ever growing crowds to the feet of the Saint.”

“Here, the Pope just remained silent in prayer. He observed, he contemplated. Our Goencho Saib surely heard the murmurings of the heart of this deeply prayerful man.”

Fr Rego and Pope John Paul II then went up the improvised pulpit. Seated there, the pope listened attentively to the Konkani hymns being sung.

“Standing by his side, I bent towards him and slowly whispered to him the meaning of the verses. He whispered back his appreciation of both lyrics and tunes, as well as of their rendering by the selected choir,” recalled Fr Rego.

“The Pope then stood up and read out his address to the priests. Among other things, he urged us, spurred by the indomitable zeal of St Francis Xavier whose precious relics we were so blessed and proud to possess, to imitate two other great and saintly priests, sons of Goa: Joseph Vaz and Agnelo de Souza. The gathering warmly applauded.”

Getting down from the pulpit, Pope John Paul II then knelt in silent prayer for a couple of minutes before the Main Altar.

On rising, the pope turned to thank Fr Rego for the welcome accorded to him in the Basilica and offered him, as souvenir, a medallion of his pontificate.

“The way out of the Basilica, amidst incessant clapping, was a renewed manifestation of the priests’ filial devotedness to the Shepherd of the Church. The same eagerness was exhibited by the priests to kiss his hand and say a word or two to him as he passed by them. Personally, I felt deeply privileged to accompany Pope John Paul all along the programme in the Basilica,” said Fr Rego.