Rome (Italy). On 30 October 2024, a group of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Community of the Generalate (RCG) participated in Rome in St Peter’s Square at the General Audience of Pope Francis on “Confirmation, sacrament of the Holy Spirit”.
Among them, Sister Maria Sarmento Guterres, FMA of the Mary Mazzarello Province (TIN), from East Timor, had the opportunity to talk to the Holy Father personally and offer her thesis for a baccalaureate, which she dedicated to Pope Francis as a good communicator.
Sister Maria graduated on 4 October 2024 in Communication Sciences, Pastoral Care, at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) of Rome with a thesis entitled: “Seeing, listening, speaking with the heart. The paradigm of the culture of the encounter of Pope Francis in his messages for GMCS (2021-2023)”.
The emotion was great when, after the Audience, the Pope approached to greet the people present on the square, who had requested an interview with him. To each one, like a father, he devoted the time necessary to listen, address some words, and give his blessing. Sister Maria recounts:
“When I was given the possibility to participate in this encounter, I couldn’t believe it. It was like a dream, an event I had hoped for, but I did not even dare to imagine could happen. The emotion and anxiety mixed inside me as I prepared for that moment.
I had spent months writing my thesis analyzing Pope Francis’ extraordinary way of communicating, his ability to touch people’s hearts with his gaze and gestures. I never imagined that from one moment to another, I would have the opportunity to present my work to the Pope in person.
The idea of meeting him, of talking to him, seemed almost surreal. I prepared myself carefully, reviewing my notes, but deep down I knew that words would fail me in front of such a charismatic man.
When I arrived at the audience, the atmosphere was filled with emotion. People around me were equally excited and happy. When Pope Francis finally came, a wave of warmth and joy crossed this space, illuminated by his gentle smile, while his gaze conveyed a deep humanity.
When it came time to approach, I felt a mixture of emotions. Holding my thesis and a typical Timorese scarf, I approached him. With my heart beating crazily, I began to say, ‘Your Holiness, I am a daughter of Mary Help of Christians. I come from East Timor and today I have the pleasure of presenting my thesis. I dedicated this work to you, to your exemplary style of communication’.
The Pope took the thesis in hand, looked at it and leafed through it, commenting: ‘Interesting… beautiful!’ Then I asked if I could offer him my work and he thanked me from his heart.
Of course, I could not leave without asking for his blessing for my country, which he visited in september 2024 – and for our Institute. Immediately, the Pope gave me this blessing.
When I left the Audience, my heart was light. I had the opportunity to share a part of my world with a truly God-fearing man. I will carry with me forever the memory of that meeting, an infinite glow of inspiration. My thesis was not just academic work, but a bridge between my aspirations to become a good messenger and the reality of a truly extraordinary communicative model.”
Querida Irmã Ina Sarmento, sinto-me muito feliz e orgulhosa e, ao mesmo tempo, emocianada ao ver e ler essa página do Instituto sobre a apresentação da sua tese ao Papa Francisco. Parabéns por essa trajetória! Sinto orgulho junto com você. Parabéns.