On August 17, after the Eucharistic celebration Father Cesare, the Superior of the Gallarate Jesuit community asked me, “Did you meet Cardinal Martini?” “I saw him from far but I did not have courage to meet him personally” I said rather low voice. “Come with me” he said and asked me to follow him.
Cardinal Martini just came out of the chapel with his wheel-chair. He was being helped by a priest. We went close to Cardinal. Fr Cesare introduced me to Cardinal. When I kissed his ring he asked which part of Bangladesh I was from. I told him Dhaka archdiocese. He said that once he had visited Bangladesh. He was happy to know about the Jesuit presence in Bangladesh. He wanted to talk to me more. But as he was finding it difficult to speak and his voice was so low, the priest assisting the Cardinal asked me to meet him another time. Then the Cardinal blessed me and left.
Thereafter I would see Cardinal everyday for the mass. Every day after the mass he would give the final blessing. I would often look at his face during mass. There was always a glimpse of peace and serenity on his face. Then for the last few days he was finding extremely difficult to speak. He stopped joining the community mass. I would often go to his room to take or give something for him.
This morning I came to know that his final moment has come. Then in the afternoon, when I heard that he passed away, I went to his room with another a few Jesuits. We stood near his bed as ‘friends in the Lord’. Though his eyes were close but the same peace and serenity was on face. I remembered the few words we exchanged. This short meeting gave me much joy…I will always cherish this short meeting!
