The Pope’s Mosaic

Goran Adamovski

Macedonia was more than a dignified host to Pope Francis. The approximately ten hours that the Holy Father spent on Macedonian soil could convince him of the words he had said before landing at the Skopje airport: “The most beautiful mosaics are the ones that are richest in colors.”

The energy that could be felt around the main square was incredibly calming, but also everywhere where the festive procession passed by. A river of citizens, believers and skeptics, peacefully flowed into the main square. The thorough security checks and the traffic blockade were seen as part of the spectacle, which is happening now and probably never again.

The messages of the head of the Roman Catholic Church were so balanced, carefully chosen and it was as if all wisdom and desire for reconciliation were intertwined in them, messages for a better world in which we will all be equal. It was a great honor that such a guest visited our country, even if it was just for one day.

Yet, his religion was least important. The visit of the head of the Vatican and the words he said called for brotherhood, and not putting Catholicism above Orthodoxy or Islam. And this must be clear to all, because it is beneath any level of intelligence to ridicule the Pope, the church he represents, to look for incredibly stupid reasons for his visit to the country, to link scandals of pedophilia with him and with the entire, which is solely a crime committed by individuals who deserve to be appropriately punished.

Pope Francis’ visit to Skopje was an event of epic proportions. Even non-believers can l at things in a more practical manner. Pope Francis did us a favor by advertising our country around the world, the whole planet saw the footage of the decorated city, the respect we gave him (although we are not primarily a Catholic country), the high level of functionality and professionalism of the institutions, the hospitality we offer to foreign guests and our smiling faces.

Actually, the outgoing President Ivanov just had to tell Pope Francis that this was not our whole and true picture, but that we are all constantly arguing with each other, that our name has been changed and that Europe and the world are keeping us in the waiting room for too long. He found the right person, and he chose the right time for his last political speech at the Vodno villa.
However, it was nice to see that the outgoing President and the Prime Minister cordially discussing as they waited for Pope Francis’ plane to fly off to Rome. We will probably never find out what they were talking about, but those moments also added to the impression for the whole day. People joke that this was the Pope’s first miracle after his arrival to the country.
After years of isolation, Macedonia is trying to get in line with the developments in the world. We will need time to get used to this new reality, and, of course, practice how to organize events in a much easier way. We will learn that we should make it nicer for ourselves as well. For us first, and then for the guests. When we are happier, we probably won’t spread so much evil.

As for Pope Francis, we will remember him through his messages.