“What to Say to the Pope?” | Postcards from Rome 2026

In his book, The Resurrection of Rome, G.K. Chesterton laments how he is the type of pilgrim who ends up going to the Vatican to see the Pope but spends more time looking at the Swiss Guard. We did not have the same experience on Wednesday, June 17, as the Holy Father was right in front of us. When I discovered there might be a chance to meet the Holy Father, I was wracking my brain with what to say to him if he came near enough to greet us. I thought of humorously apologizing for my grandfather who was a Cubs fan. I thought of asking him for prayers for a special intention. When the moment came, I found I could say neither of these.

The day before, I was able to persuade one of the Swiss Guard to let me sneak into the Scavi Tour office to see if I could get a ticket or two in order to see the Tomb of St. Peter. I was successful and two other seminarians accompanied me. After winding our way through slim tunnels and dark corridors, we finally came to the Graffiti Wall where the Bones of St. Peter are contained in a box donated by NASA, which apparently will outlast the destruction of the world. At Peter’s Tomb I prayed and asked him for strength and courage in my vocation, as Jesus told him to “strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32).

The Holy Father had just returned from a trip to Spain and he looked tired. The heat was tremendous and beating down on us and on him. There were a mix of emotions as the Supreme Pontiff approached. Here was Peter, the Rock; a human man given a challenging vocation to lead Christ’s Faithful. At the same time my thoughts turned to the words of Christ: “You are Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Well, here is Peter, and here is the Church. The War has been won but the battles are still taking place. In 2000 years, the Church has at times wavered as if to fall but has withstood every onslaught against her. The Pontiffs have been saints and sinners but to this day Peter and his mission remain. The Gates of Hell have not withstood the power of God’s grace dispensed through the Church headed by Peter.

On Tuesday I had gone to Peter for prayers, now on Wednesday, I would go to Peter with prayers. Before entering into His Passion, Jesus said He had prayed for Peter, and so would I. As he came down the line greeting our group, I held out my hand and told him I was from Illinois and that we were praying for him. He seemed to appreciate this, shook my hand, and smiled. He asked us a couple of courteous questions and then we asked him for his blessing, which he willingly gave. As he was leaving us, he said “See you Stateside!” I had come to Rome to see Peter, little did I think it would end with a hint that Peter would eventually come to see me in the United States.

Joseph Tuttle
Diocese of Springfield