VATICAN CITY — 'Aiea resident Audrey Toguchi emerged from Saint Peter's Square yesterday a little wobbly on her feet.

Her husband, Yukio, wasn't doing much better.

The two got a treat yesterday, when Honolulu Diocese Bishop Larry Silva plucked them from the crowd of thousands gathered in the square for the pope's weekly general audience and got them seats in a special section for VIPs on the steps in front of St. Peter's Basilica, close to the pontiff. After the audience, the pope personally greeted Toguchi and her husband — along with others in the VIP section — giving her a rosary and blessing a bag of Father Damien medals she had.

The Toguchis then kissed the pope's ring, and Audrey Toguchi thanked Pope Benedict XVI for canonizing Damien.

Toguchi's cure from an aggressive type of lung cancer after praying to Father Damien and refusing medical treatment was the second miracle attributed to the Sacred Hearts priest, assuring his elevation to sainthood.

For Toguchi, a devout Catholic, the day was priceless.

"I'm numb," Toguchi said. "In my whole life, I never thought I'd be so close to the pope."

She added, with a laugh, that she wasn't the only one in shock. Her husband, who is not Catholic, was shaking during the general audience, she said.

Yukio Toguchi didn't deny it.

"He was just about 20 feet away," Toguchi said. "It was such an experience."

The Toguchis, both in their early 80s, were among 530 Hawai'i residents who attended the general audience in Saint Peter's Square as part of their pilgrimage to Rome for Sunday's canonization of Father Damien. The papal audience was the first big event in Italy for the group, which just completed a whirlwind tour of Belgium, where they visited Father Damien's hometown and tomb.

'ONCE IN A LIFETIME'

The Hawai'i pilgrims said the pope's audience was something of a preview for the canonization.

There were big crowds and a relentless sun.

But, they said, there was also a feeling of camaraderie, of spirituality and of "pinch me, I'm dreaming" awe.

"It's once in a lifetime," said Kaua'i resident Gary Pacheco, sitting in the square before the audience had started, looking at the famous facade of St. Peter's Basilica.

"It's unbelievable the feeling of being here to see the people so close up."

Sister Irene Barboza, of Honolulu, said being at the audience "feels great."

Especially, she added, since the group is in Rome for Damien's canonization.

"Now the moment has come."

During the general audience, the pope talked about the 400th anniversary of the death of St. John Leonardi.

Also during the ceremony, the Vatican acknowledged visitors from around the world, including the Hawai'i group.

HAWAI'I'S PILGRIMS

When Silva and the group were mentioned during the ceremony, the Hawai'i pilgrims erupted with applause.

Silva, who is also on the Damien pilgrimage, said seeing the Hawai'i residents — most of whom were wearing matching yellow caps with a picture of Father Damien on the front - in the sea of thousands gathered in Saint Peter's Square gave him a warm feeling.

"I was very happy to have some way of identifying them," Silva said.

At the papal audience, he sat in a line of bishops to the side of the pope.

Afterward, he and the other bishops greeted the pope, kissing his ring and sharing personal messages.

Silva said he told the pope he is from Hawai'i and thanked him for his part in elevating Damien to sainthood.

FROM KALAUPAPA

Father Damien, born Joseph de Veuster in Tremelo, Belgium, in 1840, ministered under horrific conditions to Hansen's disease patients at Kalaupapa, Moloka'i, for 16 years, before succumbing to the disease himself.

Damien, who will be canonized Sunday along with four others, will be Hawai'i's first saint and the ninth who did their good works on what is now American soil.

Eleven Hansen's disease patients, many of whom still live in Kalaupapa by choice, are on the Damien pilgrimage and were sitting in the front row at the general audience because they are in wheelchairs.

The pope passed next to them in his open-air vehicle, as he circled the square to greet attendees.

Several of the patients said they didn't expect to get so close.

When patient Norbert Palea left Saint Peter's Square, he said he would need some time for the morning's event to sink in.

"I just can't believe we're here," he said.

Patient Barbara Marks said she wore a Damien necklace to the event.

During an audience, the pope blesses all those in attendance, along with any religious items they may have.

Marks said that includes the Damien necklace.

"It's blessed!" she said, with a wide smile.