Question 2.20

2.20 Was living in Rome an extraordinary experience for you?

When I was in Africa I imagined that Rome was something like paradise. . . To me, the city of the pope seemed far off and inaccessible.

My arrival in the urbs aeterna (eternal city) is engraved into my memory. Each step was a marvel. I was staying on the viale delle Mura Aurelie, at the Collegio San Pietro, not far from the Vatican. When I entered the majestic Saint Peter’s Basilica for the first time, how could I have imagined that one day I would celebrate Mass in that sacred place as a cardinal? I remember perfectly my first prayer at the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles. I had a very intense feeling of deep faith, of love for God, and of the heavenly inspiration that I could see in all those works of art. During that time, I discovered ancient Rome, the Coliseum, the Forum, the catacombs, and all the memories of the first Christian martyrs. Often, I told myself that I was walking in the footsteps of the saints, of whom I was supposed to be a humble pupil.

But our studies took up the main part of our days. … We had great professors, who were often the best specialists in their fields. At that time, Carlo Maria Martini was rector of the Biblicum. I remember in particular the courses given by Ignace de La Potterie, Stanislas Lyonnet, Etienne Vogt, and Albert Vanhoye, who was also created a cardinal later on. These competent academics were imbued with a radiant interior life. They communicated to us their knowledge and their faith in God.