Brave Caitlin enjoys the chance of a lifetime as she earns an audience with the Pope
THE SURVIVOR of a rare blood condition has spoken of her pride after reading alongside the Pope in front of tens of thousands of people in Hyde Park.
Caitlin Behan, 13, from Westone, Northampton, was one of a select few who had the once in a lifetime chance to take part in the Hyde Park Vigil on Saturday night with Pope Benedict XVI on the third day of his UK state visit.
Originally Caitlin was asked to carry the Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage Trust (HCPT) charity’s banner, but after organisers learned of her courageous battle against illness she was invited to take the stage.
In front of an estimated 80,000 people Caitlin read a liturgy which involved her reading the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with the Pope answering each line.
Caitlin said: “It was amazing, really amazing. It’s hard to put into words.
“It was amazing with all the people, the stage was huge, so huge.
“But they didn’t matter with the Pope there.
“I was terrified before I went on stage but everyone was really nice.
“The Bishops told me I had done really well, so I was pleased.
“It was an honour to read with the Pope and he was standing so close to me,” she added.
“It doesn’t get much better than that.”
With security waiting to whisk the Pope into his car after the Vigil, Caitlin was not able to meet him later.
Caitlin, who rehearsed for the reading in London on Friday, joined the HCPT two years ago following her recovery from Fanconi’s anaemia in 2004.
The Northampton School for Girls student is still dealing with the effects of a stroke that she had in 2004 but says she is “always getting better”.
Her mum, Bernie, who watched from the audience in Hyde Park, said: “She was absolutely fantastic.
“The atmosphere was unbelievable, it was like being at a concert and we were part of this wonderful group of people.
“I couldn’t get close enough to see her but I could hear her and she spoke very clearly and confidently. I’m very proud of her.”
The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI’s four-day official visit to the UK came to an end in Birmingham last night, before he flew from Birmingham International Airport to Ciampino Airport in Italy.
It was the first official papal visit since that of John Paul II in 1982.
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