Emotional encounter – Carinthian says: how I met the Pope

February 21, 2025. Nearly 7,000 deacons from 100 countries participated in the three -day great holy annual meeting in Rome. Including Jacob Marinus Mokoru, Diocesan Youth Chaplain of the diocese of Gurk and Deacon in the Dean’s Office St. Andrä in the Carinthian Lavant -Valley. In the Basilica di Sant’andrea della Valle in the city center there were a lecture (Kathesse) and the questions of a certain American cardinal called Robert Francis Prevost on the program on “Drawing of Hope in the Diaconal Service”.

Motto: “I have to listen to you first”
Mokoru, who has not been able to do much with the American cardinal so far, was surprised. “He answered every question calmly and patiently, also critically, such as those about the controversial subject of the diaconate of women. Listen first, I tell you my opinion and we find a common solution or a common path.

Photo: Birthday of the Diakons in Rome

“He asked me where I come from”
After the questions, the family man Mokoru missed the opportunity to seek personal contact with Prevost. “I was lucky, he took the time. We spoke in English. He asked me where I came from and that he knows Austria or Vienna.” And different? “I told him that after the resignation of Christoph Schönborn I needed a smart archbishop for Vienna. He laughed and said that Rome will make a decision as soon as possible.” Of course there was also time for a photo together.

“I’m more on goosebumps now”
It was impressed by the approximately two and a half -hour experiences, the religious teacher of the Lavamünd Middle School in the Lavanttal reported his immediate surroundings immediately from the meeting with the American Cardinal. “I said that I would like him as the next pope because he is so authentic. The fact that it actually happens a few months later, when I still open goose and make my conversation many times more valuable.”

White smoke in the middle of the birthday party
How did he follow the pope election on Thursday? “We celebrated my youngest daughter Mirjam’s third birthday, the live stream ran out of the Vatican. Suddenly my middle daughter Luzia shouted that white smoke came up about the Sixtine Chapel,” Mokoru describes the moment.

Theologian Zulehner had predicted it
The nervousness rose. Especially from the moment that Viennese theologian Paul Zulehner recently announced on ORF that his personal insider was prevosted. “I first thought,” Wow, that would be. ” I then placed the photo together in my personal WhatsApp group.

“Special moment”
When Prevost finally appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as the new Pope Leo XIV, there was no stop at Mokoru. He immediately posted the common photo with the new pope on Facebook. Congratulations and greeted a lot of feedback. “It was a special moment and I became a bit emotional. It doesn’t happen every day that you can say that you met the newly baked pope earlier.”

Now the Diocesan youth assistant in his surroundings is almost a “hero”. After the Facebook message, the calls are piling up. “Of course I have already received questions about the private public, but they have previously taken note of it with a wink,” Mokoru smiles.

Midfield director, not a striker
What does he personally expect from the new pope? “I believe he will continue from Francis. Francis was at the same time a reformer and conservative. I see that at Leo XIV. He is Augustiner, where the community is the focus. Leo will concentrate on the common dialogue and also build bridges in certain subjects. As a striker.”

Caught the White House?
Could Rome’s choice be seen as a finger in the direction of the White House and US President Donald Trump? Mokoru: “It may have played a role in the back of some cardinals. But Pope Leo has long since disappeared, many see him so much as an American pope. But yes, in his first message that peace and not evil will also be won, you could also see him as a counter -freedom of the American first policy.” But you have to wait. ”

And when does Mokoru plan his next trip to Rome? “Maybe even in the summer, or otherwise in the fall. But it doesn’t push. I have a lead because there is already a photo with the pope,” laughs Mokoru.