Le Figaro Marseille
When she is asked to read her poem, paper in hand, Andrée Dupuy puts a moving ardour into it, wrapped in her pink dressing gown. His inhabited gaze declaims the first verses that slam in his opulent room of the Good Shepherd retirement home, hidden in a small street in the 9th arrondissement of Marseille. "I shuddered! I shuddered! I wept on the Mount of Olives!
»It's hard not to perceive the passion of this former PTT agent, who has always loved and aspired to write poetry. "But you can't start poetry young," says Andrée Dupuy. When you write poetry, you know, the teachers, in the margins, they put question marks!" So, the Marseillaise devoted herself to her art late in life, with nearly seven books and no less than 200 poems to her name.
But it's the 200th poem she wrote at the end of last year, a few weeks shy of her 97th birthday, the one she's reading on that January afternoon, that has had a barely believable destiny. A poem that advocates love and compassion, united with that of Christ on the Mount of Olives, in these troubled times of war.
During a discussion with his sophrologist, who was very pious, she suggested that he send this poem to the Archbishop of Marseille and Pope Francis. At first, Andrée Dupuy was dubious, to say the least, even if she admitted that she had the Pope in mind when writing this text. The old lady was indeed very touched by Francis' speech during his visit to Marseille, during which the Holy Father also used the term "trembling" during his homily.
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A letter to the Archbishop of Marseilles
In her small room, a small photo of Pope Francis reminds us of the nonagenarian's piety. "Today, I am very Jesus," she smiles. Even if I'm not very square in terms of religion. I ate a little at all the racks. I was going where you can bring joy. As soon as there was no more joy, I left." During the writing of this poem, Andrée Dupuy drew on her memories, still vivid despite her age, of a pilgrimage to the Mount of Olives. "I was both happy and troubled to think that he had walked there. I danced, caressed the stones.
»Finally, Andrée Dupuy let herself be convinced, and a few weeks ago sent her poem to the cardinal of Marseille and to Pope Francis. "I was hoping that the Archbishop of Marseilles would answer me," the old lady confides with a smile. I told myself that somehow, he's not a one-armed man, and we're his flock! But the Pope..." The first response arrives as a Christmas present, around December 24th. It is signed by the archbishop, who took the trouble to write a short note to the 96-year-old poet by hand. "Merry Christmas, dear Andrée, and thank you for this poem that seeks love even through tears," the cardinal wrote.
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"We both winked at each other"
But the story doesn't end there, and what seemed unthinkable to Andrée Dupuy happens. About ten days ago, in her small room in the retirement home, the poet received a letter from the Vatican. It is signed by Pope Francis' assessor. "You have sent to His Holiness Pope Francis a poem that you have composed to manifest, in this time of war, your compassion united with that of Christ on the Mount of Olives," the letter reads. I am instructed to express to you the Pope's deep gratitude for this tribute," referring to the use of the word "shudder" in Andrée Dupuy's poem.
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He saw my wink, and he answered me, so we both winked at each other," smiles Andrée Dupuy. He added: "I touched him with my heart and with my words. We now have a link. Poetry touches the heart and soul, to bring good to people. And it's also a song. That's how I write. It takes me out of myself and makes me less selfish, to give to others and enchant them.
»This letter of the Pope filled the old lady with so much happiness that she lost sleep for several days. and now inspiration. No more verses have come to blacken his many notebooks since this famous event. But Andrée Dupuy is not worried, and promises: "Once the shock is over, I'll get back to it!
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