By Peter Sanchez, Special Contributor and Staff Reports
A recent trip to Rome became a blessed encounter for healing for Dana Schmidt who has stage 4 cancer and her husband, Dr. Vincent de Paul Schmidt, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools.
The Schmidts were among those to attend a general audience with Pope Leo XIV in January in Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. After Pope Leo’s welcome and remarks, the couple met the U.S.-born pontiff and Dana received a special blessing.
“It was an unbelievably spiritual experience for us,” Dr. Schmidt said. He and his wife reside in the Camden Diocese and are parishioners of Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish in Glassboro.
Dr. Schmidt recalled spending time during the Christmas season figuring out the perfect gift for his wife. “I remembered she wanted to see the Pope,” he said, explaining that his wife wanted a blessing for her longtime battle with cancer. With assistance from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., the Schmidts found themselves at a papal audience in mid-January, seated close to the Pontiff. “We were three rows from the stage; we were very lucky,” Dr. Schmidt said.
After the Pope gave his address and imparted a blessing to the crowd, the couple met him face-to-face.
“It was lovely. He asked where we were from, how we liked Rome, what we had seen during our stay,” Dr. Schmidt recalled.
Next, the Pontiff personally blessed Dana, laying his hand on hers.
“I’ve seen Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI before [from afar], but to be in the presence of Pope Leo, shake his hand and speak to him was unbelievably powerful,” Dr. Schmidt said.
“It meant the world to my wife, and it was a wonderful gift.”
He also reflected on how they were greeted at the audience “by individuals speaking in English, French, Spanish and Russian. I saw the sheer scope, size and magnitude of the Church, and it was awe-inspiring.”
In an email to his Chancery colleagues about the visit to Rome, Dr. Schmidt said that his wife’s cancer has metastasized and that prior to leaving for Rome, Dana’s doctor finally said, “months not years.”
“As you can imagine that information broke many hearts in our home,” he said. “The impact of meeting the Holy Father was so immense that she broke out into tears.”
“But for the first time, they were tears of joy as opposed to what we’ve experienced lately and for the last few months,” he said. “The support from my colleagues at the Diocese of Trenton has been absolute. I cannot thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”
“I especially want to thank Bishop [O’Connell] for the opportunity to bring Dana to the Vatican,” an this opportunity that very few receive, Dr. Schmidt said.
Peter Sanchez is on the staff of the Catholic Star Herald, the Camden Diocesan newspaper. Parts of this story first appeared in The Catholic Star Herald and is reprinted here with permission.