That Infectious Smile (Day 10, Wednesday, October 30, 2013)

Some personal history: ten years ago, when I visited Rome with daughter #3, Cathy, we were on the list to have an audience with Pope John Paul.  By the time we arrived, Pope John Paul had gone on to his eternal reward.  We looked forward to seeing the new Pope, Benedict.  It was not to be!  On the day we went to the American College to collect our tickets, we were told, "There is no audience today.  The Pope is ordaining 5 new Cardinals.  They each have a delegation of 500.  St. Peter's is closed today."  So I prayed to someday return.  Back then, the audiences were held in a large room with a capacity of approximately 1,000.

The day has come for a real audience with Pope Francis!  Our head guide, Elianora, tells us that every week there are approximately 150,000 in St. Peter's Plaza for the audience with Pope Francis. We leave the hotel, walking, at 7 a.m.  Even though, with our guide, we will bypass the crowds, that is no small accomplishment with a crowd this big!

The platform awaits His Holiness, Pope Francis.

The plaza is divided into large sections with aisles having sturdy barriers.  We sit on the last two rows of the right front section.  This assures we will be at the 'fence' when the Pope passes.  Elianora says these are the best seats.

Those in the section behind us.  The day is cool and overcast, praise God!  Note the typical Italian "umbrella" trees (a type of pine tree) on the hill in the background on the right.  We asked Elianora if they were all trimmed to look that way.  She replied, "No, they just grow like that."

Coming early and waiting for the Pope, there are announcements and processions to occupy our time.  This couple was part of a group all dressed in medieval costumes processing to the front.  Also, there was the entry of brides and grooms.  If a couple has been married recently, they are invited to wear their wedding finery and come as a group, sitting in a special section.

We have time to view all the statues on St. Peter's Basilica and the colonade.  This is a statue of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Redeemer.

One of the Swiss Guards, watching over the safety of the Pope.  There were several dozen of these guards but many men in black suits around the Pope when he came.  I assume these are also guards.

Pope Francis, behind us!  He passed by us twice, traveling faster than I would have thought.  His beautiful smile is most captivating!  He is like a rock star with the young people screaming and cheering.  At times, he stopped the 'pope-mobile' to get out and kiss babies and children, also physically handicapped people.

There are giant TV monitors on which we can follow the Pope's progress in his trip through the crowd, and then can see him better when he is on the platform speaking.

While we were waiting for His Holiness, at intervals announcements would be made from the platform.  Everything was repeated for a total of seven languages.  There was a Bible reading done by priests that also followed the same procedure.  Pope Francis, leader of One Billion Catholics throughout the entire world, successor of the first Pope, Peter, chosen by Jesus, in an unbroken line of popes, respected leader, and personal hero, was most inspirational!  If you get cable TV, check out EWTN-TV (Eternal Word Television Network).  It is the global Catholic TV and shows all the Pope's events live from wherever he is.

This is my favorite bridge, the Ponte Sant' Angelo, over the Tiber River in Rome.  Behind it is the massive Castel Sant' Angelo, built in Roman times.  It is a massive fortress, now a military museum. There is an underground tunnel from the Castle to the Vatican which was used (once) for the Pope to escape invaders.  The Tiber River was flowing well this trip!  It was nearly dry ten years ago.

The Roman Coliseum

After our Fabulous Papal Audience, we shop, have lunch, then bus around the city, ending up at the Coliseum.  Built to hold 50,000 spectators more than 2,000 years ago, this is a massive circular arena.  I finally found the answer to my question about all the holes in the walls.  What was their purpose?  Elianora says that they once held metal supports for their marble walls.  Every surface was once covered with marble.  How beautiful that must have been!  After the fall of the Roman Empire, basically the Coliseum was used as a quarry.  Builders in Rome would help themselves to the marble in the Coliseum for centuries afterward.

In the center of the arena is an area of two levels, formerly covered by a floor.  These sub-levels held rooms for the wild animals used in the Roman games and space for gladiators who would fight. There were elevators to bring animals and people up to the arena level.   Before the central sub-levels were built, the area was flooded, ships brought in, and mock naval battles were fought.  That's how big this space is!  

Elianora says that legend has it that many Christians were martyred in the Coliseum by being eaten by lions. This is not proven.  However, one species of lions in Africa was wiped out by Romans using them in their games.

The Arch of Constantine, completed in the year 315 to celebrate a military victory. Although it appears to be connected to the Coliseum, it's not.  Nearby is the Arch of Titus, completed in the year 82 to celebrate Titus' destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and, the whole of Jerusalem.

Basilica of St. John Lateran

 

We visited the most important church in Christianity, the Basilica of St. John Lateran.  The is the Pope's Church, as bishop of Rome and of the world.  It is, of course, appropriately magnificent in every way.  Nearby were other ruins, the Palantine Hill, where the rich and important Romans lived, and the Roman Forum.  Then our bus brought us back to our hotel for Mass, and afterwards, dinner on the Roof Garden.  Another wonderful day in Rome!

Having fun at dinner: Theresa (left), Father Richard, and Margaret.