Dr. Eric W. Gritsch

On November 26, 2019, Reverend Terrence Lee Weber presented his holiness Pope Francis with a commemorative medal for the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation. This medal was designed by The Reverend Doctor Frederick J Schumacher, STS

Dr. Schumacher is a friend of the fund and he first introduced this design to the world at the Gritsch Memorial Fund's 2017 Symposium in Baltimore during his Numismatic Art presentation- Video. 

Available from the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau

A PAPAL AUDIENCE WITH HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

by  The Very Reverend Terrence Lee Weber, STS, KTJ 

Shortly after the commemorative medal for the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation was designed by The Reverend Doctor Frederick J Schumacher, STS, and its production by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, I was approached several times to see what influence I might exert in getting this medal directly into the hands of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.  The medal was commissioned to commemorate the Pope’s visit to Lund Sweden beginning the global 500^th Anniversary celebration.  The medal also recognized the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification signed by Lutherans and Roman Catholics in 1999.  I thought the request was legitimate and I was honored to be a part of it.

Let me to offer some background as to why I was approached with this request.  For the past thirty-five years I have worked for the Archdiocese of New York, specifically as the archivist and historian for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of His Eminence Terence Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop of New York from 1968 until his death in 1983.   In fact, I was appointed by His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan to be the chairman of the Historical Commission.  This Commission oversees the collecting, gathering, and preservation of all documents pertinent to the Cause.  It was in this role that I was privileged, as a Lutheran pastor, to write the report from the Historical Commission to the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.  I am still active in that appointment as I also serve on the Advisory Committee of the Cardinal Cooke Guild.

Because of my unique ecumenical relationship with the Roman Catholic Church I thought it an honor to do what I could to make the ALPB request a reality.  So, in the course of time, I approached His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, current Archbishop of New York, on several occasions; in person, by email, and by letter all to no avail.  I knew him to be busy, so at first, it seemed only natural that I received no answer.  On one occasion when we did speak briefly the Cardinal thought the prospect was interesting, but offered no further concrete assistance or suggestions.  It seemed, for the moment, like I had hit a dead end.  If anyone could get to the Pope, I thought, I surely would have been Cardinal Dolan.

But, I was not done in my endeavors.  I was invited by some influential Roman Catholic lay people to attend a fund raiser gala in Manhattan honoring the various charities of the Catholic Church in the United States.  As a result, I knew that the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, the Most Reverend Bernadito Auza, would be in attendance.  I wanted to use this opportunity to make my request.  On the evening of the gala, I made sure I arrived early so I could talk with His Excellency about the medal.  We did meet.  We did talk.  And I did give him a copy of the medal that I wanted to place in the hands of the Holy Father. The Archbishop made no guarantees that he could do that.  Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable evening and the Reformation medal got into the hands of this important prelate.

There was another person in attendance at the gala that night, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, the Most Reverend Christophe Phillipe.   After my meeting with Archbishop Auza, I approached him with the same request.  He was extremely interested in the medal and remembered well when the Holy Father went to Sweden.  Again, we chatted at some length, and then posed for pictures, but I left his presence knowing deep down that my request probably would go no further.  At least, another medal would be out in the hands of a Roman Catholic prelate.  It was not a total loss.

I learned second-hand that, even before the medal was struck, Pastor Schumacher thought of approaching his daughter, Joy, who lives in Malmo, Sweden, a short distance from the Lund Cathedral.  Perhaps her pastor could approach the Bishop of Sweden to see if she could arrange a presentation sometime during the Pope’s visit.  As is turned out, Joy had made travel plans for a visit to the United States at the same time.

I wrote a good friend of mine who was a Cardinal-Elector for Pope Francis, His Eminence Edwin F O’Brien, who lives at the Vatican.  I asked if he might help me.  He himself has always been ecumenically-minded and I thought our friendship over the years might just work to achieve my goal of placing into the hands of the Holy Father the Reformation medal.  But, through a busy travel schedule that fall the Cardinal was not able to act on my request, though he was sympathetic to it.  At one point in our discussions, the Cardinal O’Brien remarked, “I hardly see the Pope myself.”

For approximately two years afterward, nothing happened.  The ALPB request seemed stalled; all roads, all connections that I had were dead ends.  I went about my work and forgot about the medal.  But, as I was getting my itinerary together for another trip to the Vatican in November 2019, I began thinking about this unfulfilled request.  I really hadn’t thought about it since the charity gala, two years earlier.  For some reason, I thought, I would like to give it one more try.  I felt very optimistic about this round of requests to see the Holy Father.

In the early weeks of October 2019 I again emailed and telephoned Cardinal Dolan laying out my plans.  It was simple; my plan was to get this commemorative medal directly into the hands of the Holy Father; whether it was me or someone else, at this point in time, I really did not care.  I just wanted the Pope to have it marking an important event in church history.  Two weeks later the Cardinal’s Office emailed me with the personal email address of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, His Excellency Archbishop Georg Ganswein.  Cardinal Dolan assured me that he would also write a letter introducing my request to the Archbishop.  As an aside, Archbishop Ganswein is directly in charge of personally caring for the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI.  I thought who better for the Archbishop sees the Pope every day.

I immediately drafted my email to Archbishop Ganswein.  Days passed.  Weeks passed.  And now I was ready to leave on my trip, but I heard nothing from the Vatican.  I did decide to bring the medal along with me because, if I could not give it directly to the Holy Father, then at least I wanted to give it to Cardinal O’Brien.  Being around and in the Roman Church for over thirty years you come to know how certain things are done.  Because I did not hear from the Vatican, even on the day of my departure, I figured that was my answer.  It would not be done.

So, after celebrating a beautiful mass on the Solemnity of All Saints in my parish church, my wife and I boarded our Alitalia flight for Rome.  We arrived in Rome on the morning of November 5, checked into our hotel, and as my wife was unpacking I decided to check my email because I hadn’t checked it since New York.  Within ten minutes, I had an email from Archbishop Ganswein telling me I would be seeing the Holy Father and I would be giving him the Reformation medal the next day, Wednesday, November 6.

I was stunned!   I read the email over and over.  Yes, I was reading the right words.  Finally, after two years, this request would take place.  In that Vatican email I was informed where to go to get the proper credentials to be present at the Papal Audience.  That evening as we prepared to meet my friend, Cardinal O’Brien, I went to the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, and after being saluted by several Swiss Guards along the way, I was given the necessary documentation.  During cocktails with the Cardinal I told him what my plans were for the next day.  Strangely, he wanted to know what number was on my ticket.  I told him.  He said, “Oh, that’s an excellent number.  You’ll enjoy the Pope.”  I think he would have liked to come along, but he was scheduled for an apostolic trip to Mexico the next morning.

Wednesday morning, November 6, came with the threat of rain showers in Rome.  The blue sky shone brightly only to quickly turn overcast.  That’s how it was for most of the day.  I arrived at St Peter’s Square early because I wanted to take it all in, and after several security checks, I was escorted by a Swiss Guard to the steps of the Basilica.  It was here that two men in mourning coats took me to my seat on the front line, the prima linea.  One gentleman said as I took my seat, “Good seat!”  Now every Wednesday when the Holy Father is in Rome he holds an audience in which he presents a short catechesis on some church teaching or scripture of the day.  After that has concluded the Pope then greets any visiting bishops, archbishops, or cardinals in attendance.   On this particular Wednesday he then went and greeted about forty brides and grooms who were there to have their marriages blessed by him.  After that, I was the first person to greet him.  Indeed, I had a good seat.

When Pope Francis came to me, I said as calmly as I could, “Santo Padre, on behalf of the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau and Lutherans around the world I am honored to present you with this medal that was struck commemorating your visit to Lund Sweden to begin the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation.  I am pleased to give it to you.”   Then, after two years of trying to accomplish this task, I placed the medal into the hands of the Holy Father . . . mission accomplished!  Now, in his hands, Pope Francis intently looked at both sides and then in simple English, pointing at the medal, but looking at me, said, “That’s me!  And that’s Luther!  I remember that day.  It was a good day.”  We chatted briefly and then the Pope said to me, “Pray for me.”  I responded quickly, “I will, but please pray for our Lutheran Church, we need the Pope’s prayers.”  At that he blessed me and gave me the gift of a rosary that I will long treasure.  I silently stood there still absorbing it all as he made his way to the next pilgrim.  In all, I was with the Holy Father for about four minutes.

Right then and there, I wanted to call Pastor Schumacher, but it was only four o’clock in the morning in New Jersey.  But, in the course of the day, I did call him to tell him the long-awaited, joyous news.  What he wanted two years earlier more than anything else has now been accomplished.  After listening to Pastor Schumacher’s joy I could not help but think of Simeon’s words, “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace,” as I hung up the phone.  As an aside, when I was waiting to make my presentation to  the Holy Father I could not help but think how I wished Pastor Schumacher were standing with me and making the presentation himself to Pope Francis. Throughout his long ministry, Pastor Schumacher has been always been a champion of the Reformation.  He needed to see the Pope’s face when he got the medal into his hands.

Many pictures were taken that day and they will continue to be a special remembrance of the day I personally met with the Successor of St Peter.

Let me offer this reflection in conclusion.  For thirty-five years I have been engaged in some extraordinary work for the Church Universal.  I could have never imagined my life taking this particular path, but I have enjoyed every moment.  During these many years I have tried to be a good ambassador for the Lutheran Church while seeking in any way to build bridges with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters.  I have gone to the Vatican many times, but I always went representing the Cause for the Canonization of Terence Cardinal Cooke or, in a few instances, the Archdiocese of New York.  But, I was especially delighted this time to be at the Vatican representing, though unofficially, our Evangelical Lutheran Church as a Lutheran pastor.  Whatever I have been able to do during these thirty-five years for the Roman Catholic Church and even these forty-one years as an ordained Lutheran pastor, I owe everything to the Lord and Bishop of the Church, Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Videre Solum Jesum

November 26, 2019