Bishop Camacho remembers the Holy Father

As much as Bishop Tomas A. Camacho wants to pay his last respects to the late Pope John Paul II, the prospect of flying 7,504 miles (12,077 km) away and then jostling with more than a million people is too daunting for the prelate to contemplate.

“I want to go [but] we’re so far away,” said the bishop in an interview with the Saipan Tribune Wednesday.

He said the trip would be very expensive and would take a long time, requiring a lot of logistical arrangements like accommodations and others. He said going to Rome would mean he has to fly from Saipan to the Philippines, to Bangkok, and to some place in Italy, before eventually reaching Rome.

At the same time, he said they did not know when the funeral would take place because the cardinals just decided the date for the funeral just four days ago. “If we’re going to buy ticket last minute, it’s going to be expensive.”

He was also hesitant when he found out that one million faithful from Poland would visit Rome for their last glimpse of the pontiff. Camacho said he got scared of the thought of going there and dealing with such a multitude.

He said the people on Saipan were actually expecting him to go to Rome for the event. “Every person I met, they would say, ‘Oh you’re still here, I thought you’re gone.’ ‘Bishop you’re still here?’”

However, Camacho said he prefers staying on the island to be with the CNMI’s Catholic faithful at this time and hold a Mass simultaneous with the pope’s funeral today. Camacho has already held a 6pm Mass for the pontiff since arriving from Manila last Saturday for a medical check-up.

He said he was in the Philippines for his regular medical check up when he learned about the pope’s condition. He had to fly back to Saipan immediately to give comfort to the Catholic community.

“We’re praying for him here,” he said. He said even the schoolchildren pray for the pope every morning.

Camacho welcomed the decision of the cardinals to hold the pope’s funeral today at 10am (Italy time) as this would be 6pm here on Saipan. He said the timing is just perfect for his Mass to coincide with the pontiff’s funeral. In this way, the CNMI would simultaneously pay a respect to the Holy Father.

The pope and Camacho in one Mass

Camacho recalled his rare moments with Pope John Paul II, saying he would never forget his birthday last year, Sept. 18, 2004, when he spent it with the Holy Father at the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, some 20 miles north of Rome. He said that was the 10th time he visited the pontiff. The pope gave Camacho some presents such as rosaries to distribute to the people.

He said he had celebrated a couple of Mass with the Holy Father. The last time he held Mass with the pope, he said he was so close to the pope that he could hear his breathing.

“It was difficult for him to speak, back then,” he said. Camacho said he spoke with the pope and told him that the people of the Commonwealth were praying for him and for his health. “That put a little smile on the pope when I said that to him,” said the bishop.

The bishop recalled one instance during his visit that he and the pope were looking at an atlas and the pope was scrutinizing the map and asked Camacho where Chalan Kanoa on Saipan is on the map. Camacho pointed out the island to him.

“Holy Father, you were on Guam next to my island in 1991,” said Camacho. But the pope told him, “No. No, it was in 1989.” Camacho admired the pontiff for his sharp memory in spite of old age.

Camacho said he feels very fortunate to have met with the pontiff. At that time, he said he was traveling with a priest-friend and a classmate in Italy who, on his behalf, called the pope ahead to ask him if he could celebrate Mass with Camacho.

The bishop was very ecstatic to find his request granted. They met up with the Holy Father in his small chapel, said Camacho, together with his two classmates, and they celebrated Mass with the pope in his private chapel. “That was rare,” he said smiling.

The time has come

Today, as the pope is led to his final resting place, the bishop said he is very, very grateful for the Holy Father. He said the whole Catholic world will “definitely miss his firm but gentle guidance of the church.”

He said that the pontiff has touched the community of the Northern Marianas Islands in 1985 when he elevated the church to that of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. It was also Pope John Paul II who named the Mt. Carmel parish church as the cathedral of the new diocese.

Camacho also said he is deeply indebted to the Holy Father for appointing him to be the first bishop of this new diocese.