Msgr. Hilary Franco first met St. John XXIII before he became Pope in 1958 and when he was still known as Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli.
Six popes later, this priest from the Bronx shares some of his experiences in “Six Popes: A Son of the Church Remembers.”
MSGR. HILARY FRANCO
Author, “Six Popes: A Son of the Church Remembers”
“Six popes. Not one, but six popes. My young age, you know. I guess I've served these wonderful extraordinary people, one after another. You know, they have enriched my life, and I am sure that probably many of the readers will be enriched by reading some of my personal acquaintances with these popes.”
A priest for 66 years, Msgr. Franco finds it impossible to choose a favorite pontiff: he explains that each played an important part in his life. From Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul I, to Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
But he says his friendship with Pope John Paul II is one he remembers especially well. Msgr. Franco recalls his first meeting with Karol Wojtyla at the Second Vatican Council, when the future Pope was a young auxiliary bishop from Krakow.
MSGR. HILARY FRANCO
Author, “Six Popes: A Son of the Church Remembers”
“You can imagine what kind of friendship that developed. Until the day, the 16th of October, 1978, you know when I saw the 'fumata bianca,' I said, 'Well, the fumata bianca. Well, we have a new Pope.' So I turned my car. I was going from my office here. I had to spend 26 years at the Vatican. And I was going to Villa Stritch, which was our residence. And I turn around and I go, 'Ah. And there is my friend.' So I said, 'Oh my, from now on I have to call him Your Holiness.'”
Msgr. Franco vividly recounts his encounters with other important Catholic figures, like Padre Pio, Mother Teresa and Archbishop Fulton Sheen. He also remembers his participation at the Second Vatican Council as an expert of canon law.
In his current role as Adviser at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, Msgr. Franco dedicates himself to a variety of projects, like promoting world peace and human rights.
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