If you were a researcher in the field of theology and had the opportunity to meet the Pope, you would surely take advantage of the chance to ask a profound theological question, wouldn’t you? Or maybe not!
Pierina Monte Riso, a member of the Secular Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, had this opportunity on August 20. She is a doctoral student in theology, but she chose to ask a complex yet “human” and sensitive question that expresses great vulnerability and, at the same time, is so important.
Pierina Monte Riso is Argentinean, from San Luis, but she is currently pursuing a doctorate in Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. On August 20, together with a large crowd, she was in the Paul VI Hall, and during the general audience, she had the chance to greet Pope Leo XIV.
Pierina says: “It was very moving. It was a gift of God’s mercy. I felt a childlike closeness to him. I was impressed by his attentive and active listening, as well as his genuine interest in what I was saying. We didn’t just greet each other, we talked.”
May I ask you a question?
With the image of the Pilgrim Mother of Schoenstatt in her hands, Pierina met the Pope, as she herself recounts:
“First, I introduced myself, stating that I was a consecrated laywoman and a member of the Schoenstatt Movement. He pointed to the Blessed Mother and said, “Ah, yes, Schoenstatt!” So I said, “Holy Father, may I ask you a question and give you a gift?”
I asked a very specific question: “How do you prepare your heart to accompany your parents in a situation of serious illness?” I showed him a photo of my mother and told him that she has lung cancer with metastasis and that my father was on dialysis and needed a kidney transplant. Then he told me, pointing to the Blessed Mother, to look at the image of Mary, because in her were all the answers. He told me that Mary was the woman of yes, of surrender, of fidelity, and of acceptance. Then he told me that accepting the inevitable is very important, because we will all reach the moment of illness or death, and that it is very important to believe in eternity. He told me that eternal life is real. Finally, he told me that he would pray for me, asking God to give me the courage and strength I need for this stage of life.
Then I told him that I had a gift for him, which was a rosary and a card with the mysteries of mercy. These are mysteries that we created with our course at the Our Lady of Schoenstatt Institute to give as gifts at our perpetual consecration. He paused to examine the mysteries, especially the word “MERCY,” and smiled.
I had brought the image of the Pilgrim Mother with me, with the intention of praying especially for my parents at this challenging time. Then I asked for his blessing, and he made the sign of the cross on my forehead, and with that, the meeting ended.”
A sign of God’s loving fatherhood
Mrs. Pierina’s study topic is related to childlikeness. Although the conversation with the Pope did not directly revolve around her research, at this meeting, she certainly felt that the concept of divine fatherhood is concrete and an indication to continue being the Father’s beloved and favorite daughter.
Translation: Sr. M. Lourdes Macías