The Pope In America: Uphams Corner: A Brief Encounter

• Share

(2 of 2)

The motorcade was positively speeding through Uphams Corner (from 10 to 15 m.p.h., National Guardsmen later estimated). But there he was. He seemed to glow in his white garments and red hat. His complexion seemed more brilliant than those of the people in the street. He was smiling. You could see the blue of his eyes. Flashbulbs flared.

People were shouting. Crying aloud. Waving. The Pope only had time to make the sign of the cross in one direction—and then he was gone. Just like that. Gone. It was 4:10. He was through Uphams Corner in 20 seconds.

Other black Cadillacs went by. No one knew who was inside them, but the people kept on waving. Then they too were gone, and there were only the trailing motorcycle cops to pass, and it was all over. The St. Peter's band finished playing to an empty street. There was a moment of stunned silence. Then the crowd broke, walking to cars or homes or bus or train depots. The rest of the proceedings would be seen on television.

Twenty seconds. Yet the people were ecstatic. "He's beautiful!" a woman cried out. "He looked so beautiful. I could see the blue of his eyes." Christine Bagley was happy. "My God," she gushed. "I can't believe it. I'm still shaking. Look!" She pointed to her Polaroid picture. There was the black limousine, and there was John Paul II. In the center. In focus. Down the street a middle-aged Irishman and a young Chicano in Army surplus clothes were unraveling the strong new nylon cord strung between the blue barrels. "Hey, we'll split it," the man said. He produced a pocket knife and they did.

Next day the front page of the Globe was emblazoned with a color picture of the Pope passing by Uphams Corner. Off to the right in it appears 75-year-old Noemi Sarmenteros from Miami. The Pope is facing away from her, making the sign of the cross on the other side of the street. Noemi is standing with her sign. It doesn't matter that the Pope can't see her. She is smiling and she is waving and she is very, very happy.