A popular Wexford couple had the holiday of a lifetime as they were “hugely overwhelmed” to meet Pope Leo XVI at The Vatican.
Seán Connick, CEO of JFK Trust and Dunbrody Visitor Centre in New Ross, Wexford, and his wife, Lourde Connick, already had a reason to celebrate - not only were they on holidays abroad with friends, but one of Lourde’s most recent pieces of work in Power Ballad, in which she features as a film extra, starring Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd, was due to hit the big screens on Friday, May 29, having already enjoyed the premier a few days prior.
There was more excitement to come for the couple, on a level they “could never have imagined”, as they travelled around Rome and took a trip to The Vatican.
Seán explained they had previously travelled to Rome on a few occassions, but they had never experienced The Vatican, and this was the their perfect opportunity.
Seán reached out to a local Wexford priest, Fr Richard Lawless, with the hope of being put in contact with Fr Billy Swan, who accepted a five-year post in 2025 to serve in the dicastery.
When they were successfully put in contact with one another, they arranged to meet, and Fr Billy arranged passes to the Pope’s Udienza Generale di Sua Santita Leone XIV on Wednesday, May 27.
“They were general audience tickets, and we were delighted with that,” Seán said.
He explained that as a wheelchair user, there would often be prioritised access at most events, and this being no exception, he and his wife were separated from their Wexford friends Dermot, Úna and Sophie Kehoe, Jas and Charlotte O’Callaghan, and David and Mary O’Brien, who were located in the front viewing area in St Peter’s Square, while Seán and Lourde were brought to a different section.
“It was just after 7.30am and there were already thousands queueing to see Pope Leo, but then they showed us to our area and little did we know that we going to be placed directly beside the altar and podium where the Pope speaks from,” said Seán.
“Hearing the readings and the different languages and being just 20ft away from the Pope was an experience in itself,” Seán added.
Following the service, Pope Leo XVI spoke with some of the Bishops who were in attendance, but then made his way towards Seán and Lourde, where an unexpected conversation was held between them, making a bittersweet moment for them all as they fondly remembered a mutual friend, the late Fr John Hennebry, a former principal of the Good Counsel College in New Ross.
In late April, 2007, Pope Leo XVI (then Fr Robert Prevost) travelled to Wexford to meet with Fr Hennebry at the Good Counsel College, as he visited the Augustinian houses in Ireland, which he would’ve been obliged to do in his position as Prior General, making him their worldwide superior. He was known to some Wexford parishioners and students as Fr Bob.
“It was an extraordinary, overwhelming experience. I’m still asking myself if it was real,” Seán said.
“When I told him we came from New Ross, he recognised the name and then when we spoke about Fr Hennebry, he was visibly saddened. He nodded, and acknowledged that Fr Hennebry was no longer with us,” Seán continued.
“He then asked us to make sure we bring a message from him to the priests in New Ross. He said: ‘Tell them they have my continued support and best wishes, particularly my colleagues in the Augustinian Order.’ It’s just remarkable,” Seán said.
The conversation between the Pope and the Wexford couple moved on to the weather, as he acknowledged the significant difference between sitting in The Vatican at over 30 degrees Celsius, compared to the weather in the ‘sunny south east’ of Ireland.
“Before he left us, I thanked him for ever ything he does. He shook our hands again and continued to the next couple. It was so surreal. It was one of the proudest moments of my whole life. We were completely overwhelmed and emotional with the whole thing. It was just brilliant,” said Seán.
The encounter proved to be a whirlwind of emotions for the pair, particularly when they learned Fr Billy is yet to meet his Holiness, despite working in close proximity, and later that night, as they returned to their hotel, Seán said he “was like a celebrity”.
“When people found out I met the Pope they were coming up to shake my hand and everyone was so excited. I’m very proud to have been there as a New Ross man, and it was a great honour,” Seán concluded.