TORONTO — Approximately 500,000 youth gathered to celebrate World Youth Day 2002 with Pope John Paul II, but 14 had an opportunity they won't soon forget. They were invited to a private lunch with the Holy Father at his retreat on Strawberry Island.

Continuing a practice he started in Rome in 2000, the Pope invited 14 young people from around the world to join him for lunch at his retreat on July 26. “I've asked people of the diocese to take people into their home. I will take people into my home,” John Paul said.

The group included three Canadians, one young person from the United States, two from Europe, two from Africa, one from the Middle East, one from Latin America and the rest from Asia and Oceania.

According to Father Thomas Rosica, national director of World Youth Day 2002, the Holy Father asked organizers to choose youth from particularly troubled, persecuted or war-torn areas of the world.

After greeting the Pope, the young people entered a wooden cabin with a fireplace for a meal of spaghetti with asparagus and coleslaw, followed by cake. “I think the Holy Father really liked the cake,” said Anneke Pehmöller of Germany

Conversation centered around the guests: who they were, where they were from and what they did. After lunch, the group sang some songs, including the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” and John Denver's “Take Me Home, Country Road.” Frank Sinclair, a musician from Toronto, led the group on his acoustic guitar.

“We also sang ‘Happy Birthday.’ I'm not exactly sure why we did, but the Pope said Robin Cammarota, who represented St. Francis de Chantel parish in the Bronx. Cammarota shares her own birthday with the Holy Father — May 18.

Cammarota admitted to being nervous before the meeting. “At last night's papal welcoming ceremony I was crying. I thought, ‘If I'm crying now, I'll never be able to make the lunch.’ He's the most important man in the world today. Everyone knows who he is whether they are Catholic or not. You cannot help but be overwhelmed with emotion when you see him,” she said.

“He said it was a terrible tragedy,” Cammarota said. “He said he would keep us in his prayers.

Some members of the group entertained the Holy Father. Sangeetha Joseph of India sang the song “El Shaddai” and said the Pope liked it. At another point, Daniel Sadera Kuntai, dressed in the red robe of the Maasai, performed a traditional dance for the Holy Father. A very tall youth, he had to do the dance outdoors so he could jump as high as was necessary.

Shirley Tso, a 26-year-old teacher from China, conveyed to the Pope that her people love him. “They love me?” asked John Paul. “Yes,” she replied, to which the Holy Father said, “It is incredible.” She said she hoped one day World Youth Day could take place in China.

Sangeetha Joseph suggested to the Holy Father that World Youth Day be celebrated every year. He said he would think about it. Afterward she described her visit as similar to a “little daughter visiting her father.”

“He made us feel at home. He was more lively and more stronger than a youth,” she said.

When Soraya Tsing told him that she was from Tahiti-French Polynesia, he seemed genuinely surprised that young people would come from so far.

Ana-Maria Cagalj, dressed in northern Bosnia traditional dress, was one of eight attendees from her country. She said she wished the Pope good health and many more years. She said she also enjoyed seeing the Holy Father so cheerful.

“When he is with youth his face cheers up, he sings, and he almost dances. He shows us the right way of life,” Cagalj said.

“The Holy Father is trying to build us up — to tell us we are all one family,” Kuntai added.

Each of the youth gave John Paul a gift. Marianne Desgagné from Quebec gave him a T-shirt. Shirley Tso gave him a flag signed by people from her country. Anneke gave him a glass prism. She said he described it as “really shiny.” She hoped that he might set it near a window and that it will remind him of the “light of the world.”

Cliffton John William Mamid, of the Yarru aboriginal people of Australia, gave him some musical clapping sticks. “It was extraordinary,” Mamid said of the luncheon. “It was just like having dinner with your grandfather.”

Gizelle Michael Mijmeh of Jordan summed up the experience of the group: “When I return, I will tell others that I spent time with the representative of Jesus on earth. Can there be anything better?”

Tim Drake writes from St. Cloud, Minnesota.