You
must bear in mind that this was a huge story at the time.
After centuries of being walled up in the Vatican, this was
the first Pope to get out and really see the people. And, he
was coming to Paris, the world's center of photojournalism
and home to the most significant photo agencies, like Sygma
and Gamma.
Though
the itinerary was not yet made public, I made the logical
assumption that his Holiness would, at some point, visit the
Cathedral of Notre Dame. So, I went and presented myself to
the church and explained that they would need an official
photographer to document the event for them. And, who better
to choose than one who could simultaneously share the images
of this historic and significant moment with the entire
world. And, of course, I'm free.
The
Pope spoke to the masses from a large podium which was
constructed in the square out front of the Cathedral. The
scaffolding somehow reminded me of a scene in "The Hunchback
Of Notre Dame". Afterwards, he went inside where he was to
privately address the priests of France and give Holy
Communion. I found my contact and asked to enter.
As
I was escorted in, I could hear the complaints of my
colleagues. "Mais, non." ""Que est-ce qu'il fait, lui." I
was entering the inner sanctum as a hundred or more
photographers, like barbarians at the gate, clamored to find
a way to sneak in. But, there I was, sitting practically at
the feet of the Pope amidst a sea of priests and there was
not another non-Vatican photographer in site. The giant
stained glass windows cast pools of colored light on the
massive stone walls which towered over me. And, his voice
echoed softly throughout the cavernous cathedral. I was, all
at once, humbled by the experience and floating in heaven
from the excitement of the coup that I'd just pulled off.
Socially,
my four years in Paris were not very warm. I had very few
friends. And, the French photographers didn't like me much
at all. Gee, I wonder why. Maybe being young, arrogant and
successful had something to do with it.
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