“El Papa Viene!” That was the headline in the local newspapers about a quarter century ago when a new and very vigorous Pontiff paid his first visit to Mexico. I was a young and inexperienced foreign correspondent living in Mexico City and I somehow found myself on the team covering the visit for CBS News Radio.

And I got one plum assignment: I was asked to do a live, color commentary as Pope John Paul II arrived at the Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico’s holiest shrine. A sound truck was stationed near the church, along the route he was scheduled to take and I perched on top of the truck ready to tell the world what the Pope looked like, the crowd’s reactions, whatever happened.

But just as I got on the air, something went wrong: The Pope-mobile wasn’t going the right way. I couldn’t see a thing. Where was he?

I was reduced to reciting the radio equivalent of B-copy: “Pope John Paul the Second has arrived here at the Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico’s holiest shrine and thousands of Mexicans have gathered to see …Pope John Paul the Second, here at the Basilica of Guadalupe, Mexico’s holiest shrine …” I was dying! This was the end of my career!

And then: A miracle happened. The Pope-mobile turned sharply. It was coming right toward me. I could see – and describe – John Paul’s every gesture. I could hear the shouts of the crowd – everything they were saying. There was color and drama, and I was conveying it to all the folks out there in Radio-land. I was saved!

Later, my producer (Tony Brunton, if memory serves) was to tell me how pleased he had been with my coverage. Listeners had written and phoned in to say they could hear the genuine excitement and enthusiasm in my voice. How wonderful, they added, that CBS had assigned such a good Catholic boy to the story. I just smiled.