Patterson native attends canonization of popes

Twenty-five years after the Rev. Michael Russo, a Patterson native, became a priest he returned to Rome to participate in the canonization of the pope who ordained him.
Russo returned to Lafayette a couple weeks ago after spending a week in Rome to attend the canonization of popes John Paul II, who ordained him, and John XXIII on April 27.
“Not everybody gets to be ordained by a pope that becomes a saint,” Russo said. “It was a great experience … The idea of being ordained by the successor of St. Peter at the tomb of St. Peter is exciting,” Russo said of the events a quarter of a century ago.
Russo, now pastor at Our Lady of Fatima in Lafayette, graduated Patterson High School in 1980 and spent three years studying in Rome before the decade ended. His first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Joseph Church in Rayne from 1989-93. He was pastor at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Franklin from 1996-2007 before being transferred to Lafayette. In between he was pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in Opelousas from 1993-96.
“The highlight of the trip was, of course, the canonization Mass,” Russo said of last month’s trip. “The Mass was very beautiful. There was more than just one emotional moment for me.”
With over a million people visiting Rome, there were many problems getting into the Mass, Russo said.
“I knew things would get a bit chaotic when city police started blocking off roads Friday night” before the 10 a.m. Sunday Canonization Mass, Russo said.
Seeing the crowds continue to grow and with the path to the Vatican from his hotel blocked off Russo set his alarm for early Sunday morning.
“At 2:30 a.m. I was standing where I needed to be, but among tens of thousands of people — everywhere,” Russo said. “In the wait, people were dropping like flies … Medical crews came to the aid of people who had become weak.”
The Louisiana priest with the Italian heritage said he “was one of the fortunate priests who had a ticket allowing me to be seated for the Mass in the priests section of the piazza.” But even that ticket was not enough for a smooth entry.
“Just as I’m walking into the piazza, a man comes and tells me to go to another waiting line. By this time I needed confession; do you understand where I’m coming from?” Russo said.
“At 6:45 a.m. I sat down in my seat … Four hours and 15 minutes later, I had arrived in the priests section for the Canonization Mass,” Russo said.
He said he was able to take part in several events and visit several places venerated by Roman Catholics.
“I had the opportunity to celebrate Mass at the tombs of the new saints, John XXIII, whose body is incorrupt, and John Paul II. Both popes are buried in St. Peter’s Basilica,” Russo said. After meeting some Lafayette students visiting Rome, “we had early Mass together in the famous Clementine Chapel, the altar nearest the bones of St. Peter.”
“I also took day trips to Padre Pio’s place in San Giovanni Rotondo. His incorrupt body has only recently been permanently exposed,” Russo said.
Some Roman Catholics believe corpses that do not show typical signs of decay after death, incorruptible bodies, “are a sign of holiness of life,” Russo said. “But the church does not state that definitively.”
Russo said he was in Rome when John Paul II died, with students from Hanson High School choir in Franklin who were scheduled to sing for the pope at the Wednesday papal audience that week. Rather than singing for the pope, they were in that massive sea of people who waited in line for 12 hours to view the pope’s body, he said.
“The Catholic Church is not dead and irrelevant,” Russo said. “There were a million people in Rome because a Roman Catholic priest touched their lives.”
Looking back over the past 25 years, Russo said he feels a special connection to John Paul II, having been ordained by him, being in Rome when he died and being there when he was canonized.
“I was ordained a priest by a saint — truly something beyond my wildest imagination,” Russo said. “Thank you, Lord, for the gift of a holy man from Poland, who taught us to ‘be not afraid,’ and left his mark in the hearts of millions — particularly my own.”
Russo expects to return to Rome later this month for a 10-day pilgrimage with students from Fatima. Before that pilgrimage, a jubilee celebration is scheduled for his 25-year anniversary as a priest. The public is invited to a 4 p.m. May 24 Mass at the Lady of Fatima church in Lafayette followed by a reception. The church is at 2319 Johnston St.
Russo confirmed the following information regarding the two former popes canonized as saints.
John Paul II’s cause for canonization commenced in 2005 shortly after his death with the traditional five-year waiting period waived. He was proclaimed Venerable on Dec. 19, 2009, and was beatified on May 1, 2011.
John XXIII’s cause for canonization was commenced in 1965. He was named Venerable on Dec. 20, 1999, and was beatified on Sept. 3, 2000, by John Paul II.