The arrival of Pope Leo XIV was a national event with global repercussions. According to reports, around 3 million people would have gathered between Air Group No. 8 and the Plaza de Armas. In addition, there was an unprecedented security cordon and a vehicular escort that supported the Supreme Pontiff in each of his trips. Along Fauccett Avenue, in Bolognesi Square and towards the Government Palace, the escort always accompanied the former bishop of Chiclayo. On his way to the Grand National Theater, where he had a meeting with different authorities, a very particular escort accompanied the way along the Luis Bedoya Expressway. It was a Metropolitan busthe public transportation service that operates between Los Olivos and Chorrillos, accompanying the papal tour. For those who were on the bus, a blessing, for those who were outside and saw what happened, “the bus of the lucky ones.”
If you have seen videos on TikTok, Instagram, Only yesterday, destiny or “the signs of the universe” (as she says) had a different plan.
“When I arrived at the station they told me that there was no service because they had closed the streets for the Pope. And I didn’t get upset, but I simply said “damn, I wanted to arrive early, because it’s my friend’s birthday and I won’t be able to,” until I saw that expresses were passing, so I went to stand in line, I waited for one, two expresses that passed until I could get in. Then when we arrived at the Central station, We saw what was happening, the Pope with all his cars, his guards and I didn’t believe it. At first I was shocked until I realized that it was them.“.
“The bus was an Express 8, to be exact. It was very funny because when we arrived at the Central Station, there was like mini traffic because there were a lot of buses there. So people were complaining at the beginning, they told the driver to move forward, why don’t you move forward and I don’t know what, because I understand that everyone wanted to get to their homes or their destination early. But then when the car started to move forward and right at the Central Station, The Pope and all his cars got out, the people started shouting and were filled with joy, I don’t know if they believed it and honestly there were people who shouted at the driver “Speed up, speed up!” And the good thing is that the driver complied, that is, he played along – so to speak – and thanks to the driver I was also able to record videos and see the Pope well.”
There were just over 60 people on the bus. You know, rush hour, complicated traffic and people always trying to move from Lima Norte to San Isidro, Miraflores, Barranco and Chorrillos. The peculiarity of Express 8 is that after its stops at UNI, Caquetá and other stations, it makes the direct route between the Central Station and Javier Prado. So that no one says that he had to get off before.
Regarding this fleeting and viral meeting with Pope Leo “We are a Catholic country and I believe that with your election, the faith has grown more and more.”.
“What I got from this meeting is that I feel that things happen for a reason. At first I was kind of a little frustrated because I was going to be late, several cars passed by that I wanted to get on, but I couldn’t find a place for them. Then, everything was so precise, I mean, What was the probability that I would just get on the bus that was technically going to escort the Pope?because then when I saw the news I saw that we were the only bus, I thought there were going to be others, but no, we were the only one. So I feel very lucky for that and I feel that the universe simply sent me a sign and told me that I had to be at the right time. My family was also very happy and told me that I was very lucky and that I was very blessed.”
At other points on the Via Expresa, near the Mexico station, another group of young people, expectant for the passage of Leo XIV, waited for the procession of vehicles carrying the Pope to pass. They were inside the station and ready to witness the moment. Although the speed, urgency and rapidity made the moment last only seconds, the Metropolitan bus, Express 8 that we have talked about, appeared to prevent them from seeing the supreme pontiff more clearly on its route. They were not the lucky ones, although, so that they do not accuse them of bad luck and “salty”, I must tell them that in reality they did get to see the pope, becauseThe vehicle that transports Robert Prevost is the one that carries the Vatican flag on the right side, near the front mirror. Blessed too, then. Briefly, but they were also another type of lucky ones.
