A Hot Springs Village tour director has recently learned more about Pope Benedict XVI.
Fran Boudreaux, a native of Opelousas, La., and member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, led a group to Germany in October to tour various places connected with the new pope.
On Nov. 6-19 she journeyed out again. This time she took 23 people to Greece and Turkey, billed as an opportunity to follow in the “footsteps of St. Paul.” Two weeks later the pope visited many of the same spots where Boudreaux’s group toured.
A veteran of three other trips to Turkey, Boudreaux admits this trip was particularly meaningful to her and many of the pilgrims. All of the tourists were from Louisiana and were led by Msgr. Robert Romero of Opelousas, La., and Father Michael Arnaud of New Iberia, La.
“There was something about this trip (that was different) than it was before,” she said. “The people were very friendly. (I didn’t expect this) I guess since we heard that no one likes (Americans) and we were a hated country.”
Boudreaux said the news about the deterioration of Catholic-Muslim relations over the past few months led several people to decide to not join the pilgrimage.
Boudreaux said one of the events in Istanbul was memorable for the group. A dinner theater was planned and when the pilgrims arrived there were American flags on the table reserved for Boudreaux’s group. In the audience were American military families and people from Iran, Israel and the Palestinian territories.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” she said of the flags. “Tears came to my eyes. … People (whose governments say) we hate each other were all in the same room.”
Boudreaux said Turkey is wonderful place for Catholics to take pilgrimages. The first ecumenical council where the Nicene Creed originated occurred in Nicaea. St. Paul was born in Tarsus and traveled extensively in the area along with his companions, Barnabas, Timothy and Silas.
“I’ve never had a group so surprised and grateful for the trip,” she said. “They didn’t anticipate what they would find in Turkey. Turkey is such a wealth of edification.”
Boudreaux said she would encourage others to consider visiting the country and that they shouldn’t worry about their safety. She said her only hesitation would be for priests wearing clerical garb in the Islamic country.
“I wouldn’t want to expose them to anything,” she said.
Boudreaux said she heard the pope was encouraged to cancel his trip to Turkey, but she was grateful he continued as planned.
“I was glad he didn’t back down,” she said. “I am very proud of him. … To me it was more significant (for him to visit Turkey) than him returning to his homeland.”
Speaking of the hatred shown by some Turkish people toward the pope, “it speaks volumes to me about Pope Benedict. … He showed a lot of strength to go to Turkey. He has the right to go there to those holy places.”
