How I shook the pope’s hand

Hand pressure. Easy bow. « It is a great honor for me, your holiness. » On November 12, 2018 I met the Pope – thanks to Alain Berset. I accompanied the then Federal President on a trip that led from Paris via Rome to Palermo, including Pope Audience.

Then suddenly it was over with the pomp. With an inconspicuous – maybe even invisible – door in a wall we were led into a narrow secret course. This led to a chamber next to the audience room and was sober for vaticaries: small, narrow, with cloakroom hooks on the wall. We were instructed to wait until we would be let into the room through another door where the Pope should receive Berset.

The correct salutation

It was in this little chamber when it was said that we might get the chance to give the Pope’s hand: «If you get the sign, put yourself in a row. Talk to the Holy Father with ‹Sua Santità›, give it your hand, and easily bow. Women make a little kink. If you like, you can tell the Holy Father. Wait the answer and go on. »

These were the instructions. « Sua Santità » so, your holiness. I could remember that. A “Santo Padre”, Holy Father, would also be tolerated by Catholics, even if that was wrong.

When the time came, we were let in the audience room, where we were able to watch the greeting of Federal President and Pope from a distance. The two changed a few words, Berset presented Switzerland’s guest gifts (an art book and a poster from the Swiss Red Cross).

A rosary as a souvenir

And then, before Berset and Francis retired to a four-eye conversation, it was so far. The sign came, we put ourselves in a row, and it was my turn to shake my hand. I bowed and murmured something like « è un Onore, Sua Santità », smiled and continued. I came to mind a thousand questions, but none would have been suitable. And neither my Italian nor my Spanish are really good. In short: because of sheer fear of saying something wrong, doing – I said, I did: nothing.