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ROME –
Archbishop John Ha Tiong Hock of the Metropolitan See of Kuching was among the 40 newly appointed Archbishops from 22 countries, who were presented with the Pallium by Pope John Paul II on 29 June in Papal Mass at St Peter’s Basilica.
Starting at 6.00 pm (12 midnight in Malaysia) on the feast of Peter and Paul the Apostles, the “Pallium Investiture Mass” was a two-hour liturgy, at which some prelates, priests, religious, in a crowd of some 20,000 were present. Trooping of the Papal Swiss guards and the procession of all the prelates in their colourful ceremonial attire around the open-air altar, was a distinctive scene to behold.
His Holiness the Bishop of Rome and the Vicar of Christ, sounded weak at the beginning, praying in Latin, in brief syllables between heavy gasps of short-breath, but as the liturgy proceeded he gained strength. The husky and shaky voice of the Pontiff echoed through the Basilica and its colonnades. It kindled an overwhelming aura of communion between the faithful on earth with the saints, who were represented by their colossal statues, perched high on the roof of the Basilica and its colonnades. The entire liturgy was made more beautiful and solemn with three groups of choir singing the Latin hymns (the “Gloria”, “Credo”, “Pater Noster”, etc) in perfect harmony.
Presentation of the Pallium was made at the end of a brief prayer (immediately before the Profession of Faith), as the Pope garlanded each of the 40 prelates individually. Amongst the offertory bearers, was Mark (a nephew of Archbishop John Ha) who was an impromptu choice by a warden on duty.
As the Mass ended, Patriarch Demetrios, who headed a delegation from the Patriarchate of Constantinople exchanged fraternal embrace with the Pope. Congratulating Pope John Paul II for almost 25 years of dynamic ministry in the service of world peace and Christian unity, the Patriach of the Greek Orthodox Church assured the Pope of their commitment to work for a full communion of the Eastern and Western churches.
On 30 June, the Holy Father granted a special audience to the prelates and their family members in Pope Paul VI Auditorium. The audience concluded with each Archbishop and four of his family members or friends meeting the Pope and being blessed by him personally. This personal encounter with His Holiness and his Papal blessing was an invaluable opportunity of grace for many.
Archbishop John Ha flew home on 1 July.
Contributed
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