The papal encounter that almost didn’t happen

Bishop Dell’Oro met with Pope Leo XIV at an Aug. 8 general audience at St. Peter’s Square

Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, at right, greets Pope Leo XIV during a general audience with the pontiff on Aug. 6 in St. Peter’s Square. (Photo by Vatican Media)

VATICAN CITY — A special encounter between Pope Leo XIV and Galveston-Houston Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, almost fell victim to airline changes.

In Rome to accompany a group of young adult pilgrims attending the Jubilee of Young People from July 28 to Aug. 3, Bishop Dell’Oro wasn’t lucky enough to meet with the new American pontiff until his very last day in the Eternal City. 

Set to fly back to the U.S. on Aug. 6, his original itinerary prevented him from attending a scheduled Wednesday, Aug. 6, general audience hosted by Pope Leo in St. Peter’s Square. Just over a week prior, Bishop Dell’Oro joined Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the pro-prefect for the New Evangelization branch of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who was the chief celebrant, to concelebrate the Welcome Jubilee Mass on July 29 in that same location to open the Jubilee for Youth. 

The Mass concluded with a special surprise for all those in attendance when Pope Leo came out to greet the more than 120,000 crowding the square and beyond.

Not knowing that he would have the chance later to greet the pope in person, Bishop Dell’Oro said just seeing the pope for the first time, for him personally, “was just incredible. It was emotional. I felt as excited as the day [when they announced] Habemus Papam Robertus Franciscus Prevost” to announce the new pope on May 8. 

As the crowds electrified in a cheery and chaotic excitement, the pope moved through the masses in his Popemobile. Some 20 minutes later, he eventually made his way to the altar and greeted the crowded square now cloaked in the dark of night, and said in multiple languages: “Jesus tells us, ‘You are salt of the earth, you are the light of the world.’” 

Bishop Dell’Oro found himself within 50 feet of Pope Leo, waving to greet the pope. 

“He smiled back at us. It was beautiful,” Bishop Dell’Oro said.

What a difference an hour can make

Because his airline had changed his flight itinerary for his trip back to the U.S. by just an hour, Bishop Dell’Oro realized he had enough time to attend the general audience with Pope Leo in St. Peter’s Square that same day and still return to the airport for the usual international departure procedures.

He made his way to St. Peter’s and eventually joined the separate group of bishops who would greet the pope following his audience, which is typically a catechetical event where the pope reflects on Scripture and includes a papal blessing. At the end of the audience, the pope often greets attending bishops and clergy, dignitaries and other officials, as well as newly married couples in their wedding outfits. 
Bishop Dell’Oro was standing fourth to last in the group of bishops lined up to greet the pope. When his turn came up, he approached the pope with an outstretched hand.

The encounter was short — just shy of 15 seconds — but “it was a joy,” Bishop Dell’Oro said. 

In his brief meeting, Bishop Dell’Oro said he introduced himself as Galveston-Houston’s auxiliary bishop, and the pope responded with a smile and nodded his head, which Bishop Dell’Oro found to be the pope’s recognition of the Archdiocese. 

“Everything was good,” Bishop Dell’Oro said. “It was a beautiful opportunity to greet the pope on behalf of Galveston-Houston.”

This wasn’t the first time Bishop Dell’Oro had met a pope.

In September of 2022, Bishop Dell’Oro traveled to the Vatican to attend a formation course with 190 new bishops from 35 countries around the world. During that time, he was able to meet with Pope Francis. 

Inspired mission

Like Pope Leo, who is an Augustinian priest, Bishop Dell’Oro is a religious priest from a religious congregation.

Bishop Dell’Oro, who was ordained as Galveston-Houston’s newest auxiliary bishop on July 2, 2021, found inspiration in their shared vocation as priests called out from their congregations by the Church and the Holy Spirit to serve the Universal Church in the episcopate, and the fact that they both come from the same generation born between 1953 and 1955. 

As a Somascan priest, Bishop Dell’Oro served with other priests and brothers in caring for orphans and the poor in a congregation known as the Somascan Fathers, which was founded by St. Jerome Emiliani in the 16th century.

Three years before his ordination as a Somascan priest in 1982, also the same year that Pope Leo was ordained an Augustinian priest, Bishop Dell’Oro was able to see St. John Paul II in 1979. Bishop Dell’Oro also saw Pope Benedict XVI several times, first as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger before he was elected pope, then during the German pontiff’s papacy. 

This visit with Pope Leo was the first time Bishop Dell’Oro spoke directly to the pope, and also have him listen and respond. 

After that meeting, Bishop Dell’Oro joined a special group of Galveston-Houston prelates and ordinaries who have met with a pope, indicating the representation of the bishops as the successors of the 12 Apostles.

In recent times, as president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, both Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza both met with a pope several times. Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Rizzotto also met Pope Francis and St. John Paul II, as did Bishop George Sheltz.