Aleksei Bukalov: “The fact Pope Francis stayed in Echmiadzin is a sign of special respect” - Mediamax.am

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Aleksei Bukalov: “The fact Pope Francis stayed in Echmiadzin is a sign of special respect”


Pope Francis
Pope Francis

Photo: PAN Photo

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Aleksei Bukalov
Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Pope Francis and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II
Pope Francis and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II

Photo: PAN Photo


Russian journalist Aleksei Bukalov arrived in Yerevan as part of the delegation of Pope Francis. Bukalov is the head of the representative office of TASS agency based in Italy and Vatican. Since 2001 Bukalov has been the only Russian journalist included in Pope`s press pool, accompanying Roman pontifices on the board of the papal plane and covering foreign apostolic visits of Popes. Last year the journalist presented the book he authored, titled “With Pontifices around the world”, on the pages of which he shares his impressions of different religious leaders he had ever accompanied.

 

Mediamax talked to Aleksei Bukalov about the importance of Pope Francis` visit to Armenia, his memories of the previous pontifices and the book he published.

 

Return to Armenia

 

It is very exciting for me to return to Armenia. I have been here for several times. I accompanied Pope John Paul II during his trip to Armenia. As a reporter of “Novoye Vremya” I visited Armenia after the earthquake stroke. We arrived on a military plane. It was the worst impression I had ever experienced during my life. I had never seen so many dead children before. I hope I would never have such an experience again.

 

The pilgrimage starts from Armenia

 

I would like to talk about Pope Francis`visit to Armenia from the geopolitical point of view. When he was elected three years ago, he stated about himself that a Pope from far away was elected. Until now, as the Head of the Roman Catholic Church and a Sovereign of Vatican city, Pope Francis pays his political attention to remote areas. He even managed to meet Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in Cuba. I think now is the right time to pay attention to the huge collapsed empire that was named the Soviet Union. So Pope Francis starts his pilgrimage from Armenia. In fact, this choice is very important. It is also very significant that Pope Francis has decided to have his trip to Armenia during the year of mercy.

Aleksei Bukalov Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

Let me recall that this is the Pope`s 14th pilgrimage and Armenia is the 24th country he visits. By the way, Pope`s each trip has a motto, which defines the significance and the spirit of his pilgrimage. In this case he stated that he visits the first country in the world that adopted Christianity as a state religion. This explains everything and shows maximal respect that the Pope could have shown and expressed.

 

Once upon a time in Brazil

 

The popemobile is the famous vehicle of Pope Francis, inherited from Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. By the way, Benedict did not visit Armenia and he did not have the word “genocide” in his lexicon.

 

During my first ever trip with Pope Francis to Brazil he used the popemobile in the city. A police car accompanied him. The policeman driving the car was from Brazil city and was not so much familiar with the streets of Rio de Janeiro. So he drove the Pope to a dead end street. The Pope appeared to be surrounded by public transport. People got out of buses and surrounded the Pope, jumping on the popemobile, trying to touch him.

 

We were following him from the press centre with fear. Pope Francis is a very communicative person, so after all we asked him on the board of the plane, “With a sinking heart we watched you, were you not scared? Only one crazy person among that crowd was enough to hurt you and that is it”. And he answered, “I am not afraid, so you see, I did not meet any crazy person”. This is incredible, he is not afraid of anything. I will tell you honestly, when I  travel on the same plane with the Pope I am never afraid.

 

Karekin`s guest

 

But here he both drove his popemobile in the crowd and took His Holiness Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II with him, and they drove together. This is his private space, but he is a great psychologist and knows well what he does. Besides the fact that he was invited by Karekin and was his guest, he stayed in Etchmiadzin during his pilgrimage. He never does so. Pope Paul VI set a tradition that during papal trips the Pope stays in Nunciature, which is the representative office of Vatican city. If there is no Nunciature in the country, the Pope stays in the Catholic Church. But here during his trip he stayed in Etchmiadzin. It seems to me that this fact was not highlighted. But this step is a serious declaration of relationship and special respect. In fact, papal trips consist of such details which become the bricks in the wall of the visit.

Pope Francis and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II Pope Francis and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II

Photo: PAN Photo

Before the flight to Armenia

 

The day before the flight to Armenia Federico Lombardi, the current director of the Holy See Press Office, briefed journalists on Pope Francis’ 3-day visit. So, during his introductory speech he did not utter the word “genocide”. I have a great relationship with him, and I respect him endlessly, so I asked him “Father, during your speech you did not use the term “genocide”, is it a special sign for us?”. I have accompanied Pope Francis during his trip to Turkey and I witnessed that everything possible was done not to let him attend the events within the framework of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Both journalists and the authorities in the Roman Curia watch these briefings, that is why I think I was right to ring the bell. After that The Pope mentioned the term “genocide” for almost three times in his speech.

 

Sure, Pope Francis realizes that it is quite unwise to spoil the relationship with Turkey and it would have been the easiest way not to touch this topic, but it is not Pope Francis` position. It was very important for him to express his solidarity with your nation. I consider this to be a historical moment that I have witnessed.

 

Pope Jone Paul II

 

When I joined the press pool, John Paul II was already week. I have seen him in different situations. We used to visit and greet him. During one of the last trips with him I entered his salon. He was sitting with his eyesclosed  and hand raised. I thought he was unconscious. I turned to his assistant and asked if I should visit him later. He said that everything was all right and I could come up to him.

Aleksei Bukalov Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

There was a plaster on my ear; I had been operated on a few days ago. I touched Pope`s hand and the assistant reported my name. I was going to leave the salon when he suddenly squeezed my hand, opened his eyes and asked, “What has happened to your ear?”. I decided to make a joke and said that my ear was healed after he asked.  

 

The adventures of icon of Our Lady of Kazan

 

John Paul II spoke Russian very well, but he never spoke in public. He really wanted to visit Russia, but he did not have the permission. He had different ideas to arrange the visit. Finally he thought of bringing the icon of Our Lady of Kazan to Russia as a gift. Icon of Our Lady of Kazan was hidden in Fatima, a little parish in Portugal, where the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima occurred. When Mehmet Ali Ağca the Turkish terrorist shot and wounded Pope John Paul II and the bleeding Pope was rushed to the hospital, he suddenly opened his eyes and asked the date. He was told that it was the 13th of May. The Pope answered that nothing would happen to him as that was the day of apparition of Our Lady of Fatima and she would protect him.

 

He survived, and as soon as he was allowed to move, he had a trip to Fatima. There in the Chapel the Pope handed in the bullet, which soon became a part of the decoration in the crown of the Virgin. He was asked what gratitude could be shown to him and the Pope answered that he wanted to take the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan. But there was not an official permission, and he left. After some time the icon was sent to Pope and it was kept in his bedchamber.

 

I was present at the meeting of President Putin and John Paul II. Suddenly the Pope made a gesture, the door opened and the assistants brought the icon of Our Lady of Kazan. Our President became concerned, as he thought they were going to hand him in the icon. And that was not discussed with the Patriarch and there was not any speech prepared beforehand. John Paul II understood the situation and said, “I just wanted her to be present at our meeting”.

 

Pope Pope Benedict XVI

 

The crowd did not really like Pope Benedict XVI, although crowd only loves a few people. He was not emotional enough and was not sociable either. My wife Galya is a guide. She arranges an interesting guide tour in the gardens of Vatican. So she told me that when there was a complete silence in Vatican, one could hear the Pope playing piano. Once she told the tourists about that fact and asked to keep silence. So they heard him playing.

Aleksei Bukalov Aleksei Bukalov

Photo: Mediamax

During the trip to Poland the Pope asked to take him to Auschwitz concentration camp, although it was not scheduled. It was an awful place, but the Pope refused to enter the gate by car. He stated that only the Nazis drove to that place and walked. It was raining, his secretary held up an umbrella, we were standing under the tent, following him. He stopped near each memorial and prayed. It stopped raining by the time Benedict reached the last memorial and his assistant closed the umbrella. The Pope raised his head and asked, “Where were you, God”. The most incredible thing was that he got an answer. A rainbow appeared on the horizon, which occurs to be a very strong biblical sign. It was unbelievable.

 

“With Pontifices around the world”

 

There is a photo in my book, where Pope Francis and me are talking together on the board of the aircraft. That was shot during the trip to America. I was sick and I took a seat in the last row to ask the air hostess for more tea. Yes, my goal was very selfish. The Pope came up to me. We are not supposed to stand up on the board, in order not to close his passage. But I was sitting in the last row, so I stood up. He started to talk about his respect towards the ambassador  of Russia in Vatican, I thanked him, we continued to talk. There were many new journalists on the aircraft, and they became jealous. Later some of them asked me about the topic of our conversation. I answered that the Pope asked me about them and I said that all of them were lazybones.

 

During our trip to Armenia Pope Francis came up and told me, “So Bukalov, you will have a good long talk in Russian there, I have chosen this route specially for you”.

 

The book is a guide around Vatican. Different stories are also included in the book, as I am not a chronicler. I have just tried to show the rhythm of this life, as a few centuries ago the Popes were kind of recluses in Vatican.  And Pope Francis does not consider himself to be a diplomat, he is a simple person, who is so close to people and who is not offended when someone asks him for a selfie. I am lucky enough to have this opportunity to see the inner side of all this.

 

Lena Gevorgyan talked to Aleksei Bukalov

Photos by Mariam Loretsyan

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