The recent Papal visit presented Philadelphians with unprecedented opportunities. Some of us attended as legal observers, volunteered as greeters, or participated in the Festival Families and the Papal Mass on Sunday. I was honored when, after a rigorous audition process, I was selected to sing in the choir for Sunday Mass on the Parkway. I did not say yes right away; after all, I am in Law School, and I had to study. However, I ultimately realized that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I had to make it happen.
The 500 member choir consisted of people of every background: professional musicians, amateurs, senior citizens, religious, lay people, conservatives, liberals, and everything in between. We were all there for a common purpose.
“I had sung this piece so many times before but I had never actually felt the words like I did on the Parkway surrounded by a million people.”
Rehearsals, which took place every Monday from July through September, were grueling. Once the semester started, I would go to class all day, grab dinner, then run off to rehearsal, get home at 11:00pm and start studying. There were many times I wish I could have gone out with friends or taken the time to reread a case before class but at the end of the day I knew I was part of something bigger than myself.
There were times where I did not know if the music would come together in time for Mass but once we got into rehearsal with the Philadelphia Orchestra three days before Mass a feeling of immense joy came over me. Hearing the string accompaniment and the brass carry the fanfare of the processional hymn for the first time brought tears to my eyes.
On Sunday, we arrived at the Parkway security gate at 8am to get into the perimeter; Mass started at 4pm. I took these hours before our warm-up to take a walk past the Art Museum, talk with old and new friends I saw along the parkway, and take in what it meant to be a Philadelphian on this historic day. Locals and visitors were singing and dancing, citizens and police were engaging in jokes and conversations. I saw Jews, Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims all come together to see the pope and celebrate Mass. Despite the popacalypse predicted by the city, there was a certain serenity in a million people stopping everything they are doing and coming together for a common purpose.
Once we were on the choral risers behind the orchestra at 3:00pm, the Popemobile drove by. We all stood up on our flimsy chairs to catch a glimpse of the Pontiff. The 50 year old nun seated behind me suddenly became a teenager at a One Direction concert. Cheers could be heard a mile away towards City Hall when the Pope drove past. Before I knew it, Yannick Nézet-Séguin gave the downbeat to the Beethoven prelude and it was time to sing. The first word: “Hallelujah!”. I had sung this piece so many times before but I had never actually felt the words like I did on the Parkway surrounded by a million people.
Philadelphia may have been the center of the world for just a day, but I will remember Pope Francis’ visit for years to come.
