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BOBBY VINTON VISITS WITH POPE By Rick StiversBDN Staff Writer Very few people get the opportunity to have an audience with a world leader, whether a head of state or a religious leader. What for many would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience has been repeated threefold for Bobby Vinton, most recently on a visit to Europe last week. "I had told friend that I would be in Rome," Vinton said, "and they told me that they could probably arrange for me to visit the Pope." Thinking little more about it, Vinton continued with his travel plans. While sailing on a ship to Rome, he received a fax from Pope John Paul invited Vinton and wife, Dolly, to visit with the pontiff at his summer residence near Rome on July 10, 2002. "It was quite a surprise," Vinton said. "Here I was sitting on a ship bound for Rome and got a fax from the pope inviting me to visit him." On this most recent visit, Vinton and his wife got to spend a few minutes speaking to Pope John Paul and were permitted to stay at his side for the remainder of the audience. "We were the first to speak with the pope," Vinton said. "And for the rest of the visit were less than an arm's length from him." Vinton said that was an honor because the pontiff was closely guarded during their visit and he was closer to the pope than the security staff. Vinton's other visits with Pope John Paul were in Los Angeles several years ago during a papal visit. Asked to represent the entertainment industry, Vinton was to greet the pope. "I brought some medals I wanted the pope to bless for my family," said Vinton, who is a Catholic. "He did and then reached out to take my hand; we shook hands, and he had placed a rosary in my hand. It blew me away to have the pope reach out for my hand and then to get that rosary too." When Pope John Paul returned to Poland for his first visit as pope, Vinton, who has family still living in Poland, was among the entourage that greeted the pope when he arrived. |
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