Last Sunday Greg and I stood in Bologna’s main square – among three thousand others – waiting patiently for the arrival of Pope Francis.

Google Maps screenshot showing road closures around Bologna for the Pope’s visit

It was showery and cool, but the crowd didn’t mind a bit. The Pontiff’s visit had been long-anticipated and people were excited.

Security in Piazza Maggiore – and around the city – was tight; only those who’d registered and received an ‘invitation’ were admitted through the barriers.

We were there to hear Pope Francis speak and then recite the Angelus, the Catholic prayer of devotion.

The first stop on the Papal itinerary that morning was a visit to Bologna’s Migrant Reception Centre and the Pontiff took time to meet many of the migrants individually; so it was about fifteen minutes past the appointed hour when the Popemobile finally came into view. Papa Francesco had arrived.

The crowd erupted with cheering and applause; people and flags waved from the balconies of buildings around the Piazza; television cameras streamed vision live to the big screen; and overhead a small drone kept a wary and constant eye on us all. (No, I won’t draw the analogy … you can do that for yourselves).

To the delight of the crowd, the Popemobile did a quick lap of the square before stopping in front of the official dais; the Pontiff seemed as delighted to be in Bologna as the city was to welcome him.

Stepping forward to the microphone Pope Francis wished everyone a “Happy Sunday!” before going on to deliver his address on ‘the world of labour’. “Seeking a more just society,” he said, “is not a dream of the past but a commitment, a work, that today needs (the cooperation of) everyone.” Then with a smile, a wave and a request to ‘not forget’ him, the Pope left to have lunch with the poor in the Basilica … but not before a couple of dozen of Bologna’s other important people had their chance to meet the Pontiff.

The official ‘meet and greet’ line

Receiving a gift from Mayor Virginio Merola, with the Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Zuppi, looking on.

Later in the afternoon, Pope Francis was scheduled to travel along our street on the way to celebrate Mass at the city’s sports stadium – the last stop of his short visit.

The road was closed, the balloons were up and the bell ringers at the local church had been practising for hours.

And when the big moment came the people cheered, the cameras clicked and the bells of Santa Caterina rang out with joy.

About eight hours after he arrived, the Pope’s helicopter whisked him away back to Rome. Papa Francesco’s visit to Bologna was over but what’s certain is that – just as he requested – it won’t soon be forgotten.