A Jesuit's-eye view of a Papal visit

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis visited Krakow’s Jesuit community on Saturday afternoon. Though not on the official programme, the visit was not entirely a surprise: indeed calls to local Jesuit houses have become something of a regular feature of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journeys. 

One of the Jesuits on hand for the visit was the head of Vatican Radio’s Polish-language service, Fr. Leszek Gesiak, SJ. He told us the meeting was more than an occasion to exchange pleasantries.

Click below to hear Lydia O'Kane's extended conversation with Fr. Leszek Gesiak, SJ, of Vatican Radio's Polish language service

“He was very open [to] our ideas,” said Fr. Gesiak, “it was a kind of ‘exchange of ideas’ – ‘exchange of visions’,” he added, explaining that the Jesuits described their work in the country to the Holy Father in some detail, especially their work in secondary education and in higher education.

It was, finally, a chance for the Holy Father to feel “at home” among his confreres in religion. “He gave us the feeling that he is our brother – our Jesuit brother,” said Fr. Gesiak. “It was something very important and very strong.”