"Ene  soley  a  pe  leve  lor  nou  legliz" (A sun rises over our Church in Mauritius)

It was with this hymn that Pope Francis was welcomed on his arrival at the Mary Queen of Peace Monument, which was built at the end of the Second World War by the Mauritians, in thanksgiving for having been spared

After this parenthesis, we want to share with you what we experienced during this papal visit, definitely too short, even if it is impossible to put into words all the joy, the emotion that has inhabited us during the preparation and the visit of the Holy Father.

The whole of Mauritius was buzzing since the announcement that Francis was going to come and give us the honour of treading the ground of our small country. Preparations were quickly started to make his stay a success. It was first of all, the material preparation: a considerable amount of logistics was needed to put in place all the details such as the layout of the various places where the pope had to go but also to settle the very strict security and protocol issues. But very quickly we moved on to spiritual preparation and we can say that it was intense. Each parish organized one-night meetings in each neighbourhood, culminating with the last one at the main church. In some parishes, all neighbourhoods travelled by special buses to show solidarity with other neighbourhoods, creating friendlier links between people who had little or no previous knowledge of each other. It's already a victory, but the personal and spiritual one has been phenomenal for many people. The theme of the visit was mainly about forgiveness and encounter: some were upset. For example, there was the testimony of a 65-year-old woman who had never been able to forgive her father, even after his death, what weighed heavily on her heart and she was ashamed to talk about it. After the third session, she shared the peace that was invading her and the next day she asked for a Mass for her father: it was upsetting. This is one example among many. The children also had meetings and a 12-year-old girl was able to bring her mother back to the knowledge and practice of religion.

The Pope's physical presence was like the "icing on the cake", like a firework that came to crown and bless all the combined efforts of the elders and young people, women and especially men who mobilized with fervor and enthusiasm.

The pope's simplicity, his smile, his humility touched us. Although visibly tired, he wanted to meet as many people as possible. He insisted on sitting next to the driver to see and be seen as much as possible of those waiting for him at the side of the road on his way. Every word of the Pope has reached someone in what he lives and where he has come from. Many felt that their dignity was recognized and that this visit was a real asset for them. All, Catholic or not, practising or not, have received his word as a gift that they will keep preciously and will share around them.

We cannot fail to mention what, for us, has been a manifestation of the unity of religions, cultures, people of all kinds and of societies. The Pope has brought together all Mauritians in an extraordinary symbiosis and makes us hope one day to reach this "Mauricianism" which we dream of, beyond any compartmentalization and barriers.

We cannot conclude without mentioning the participation of the government, which has worked hard for the success of this visit. It should be noted that Christians are 30% of the population.

The Church works for all, without distinction, in the field of education and social problems such as drugs, prostitution and discrimination but does not interfere in politics. This is the first time that we have seen so much effort to welcome a head of state who is also, first and foremost, the head of a religion. The leaders made a very great contribution to the development of infrastructure, security and the cordial welcome they gave to the Pope. They even made free buses available to the diocese for those who live in remote areas and lent the assistance of the police force: it was police men who transported the statue of the Virgin of the Great Power from the village of Old Grand Port to the Queen of Peace in the capital, Port Louis. The local television station spent one hour each day for two weeks on documentaries on papacy and Catholicism.

Mauritians of Hindu faith (in majority) and Muslim faith were very numerous to travel to see the pope, waving their palm branches as he passed with their Christian brothers. For them, as for Catholics, it was as if it were Christ himself who visited; they felt this passage from the Pope as a blessing. The Pope himself kept an emotional memory of the bouquet that the Imam had sent to the bishop’s office.

We can only sing the Magnificat with Mary for allowing us to live so intensely this special event in our heart.

Marie-Noelle Luchmun

President of Life Ascending Mauritius