Diocesan seminarian is part of procession

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
April 7, 2005

One of the seminarians for the Diocese of Sioux City who is studying at the North American College had "an unforgettable experience" as he was able to walk in the procession when the Holy Father was brought from the papal palace to St. Peter's Basilica.

William Vit, who was ordained a transitional deacon last fall, pointed out that the procession used the same alignment as used for a traditional liturgical celebration - with seminarians starting off, followed by deacons, priests, bishops and then the pope.

"As the procession was leaving the papal palace going through the bronze door, I could hear the bell ringing. It was tolled at the death of the pope. I heard the bell ringing and saw hundreds of thousands of people," he recalled. "I actually got a little emotional."

The seminarian, who is a native of Fort Dodge, said it is hard to come up with the words to describe this experience.

"I realized I was part of history and I was right there in the middle of it," said Vit.

Even with the thousands of people and media everywhere, he noted that everyone was focused on one thing - the body of the pope.

He pointed out that the procession was open to any cleric or seminarian in the city. Many of them learned last minute as to the times and that it would be open to all of them.

"It happened very quickly, but it was pretty full. I think there may have been over 1,000 in the procession alone. It was sizeable," noted Vit. "Anybody heard that it would be open, literally ran across the city to get into it. A group of us from the school here got dressed, ran the stairs, down the hill and across the piazza. We got there just in time. Anyone who knew they had this opportunity jumped at it."

He mentioned that it has been an honor to witness the activities in Rome upon the death of the Holy Father, but at the same time the excitement is mixed with a sense of sadness and mourning as well as hope for the future.

"It not only is a once in a lifetime experience, it is a once in a lifetime feeling," said Vit.

The seminarian said he had seen some photos of processions from the deaths of earlier popes and he never thought he would be part of one.

"As I was processing, I thought this is part of the cycle of the church. A pope is a man and eventually has to die. Our church will always continue on - so that is the sense of hope right there. This has happened before and yet we continue to move forward," he said.

Vit will remember the pope for many things, but especially the way he traveled around the world and brought so many people to a love of the church, especially the young people.

"So many youth are looking for their place in the world and John Paul defined a place for them in the world," he said. "I would consider myself a part of that."