We were assigned tickets through our diocese of St. Augustine upon request to the Pontifical College of North America, the Seminary in Rome located near the Trevi Fountain, where we had to go to pick up the tickets. The same nuns from the Sister of Mercy order we met at the English mass on Sunday at Spirito Sancto in Sassia church were there to tell us when to get there on Wednesday and where to sit or get close to like the barricades for close photos of the Holy Father.
Here are the photos my Mom took – it started to rain a few times but quickly passed. I am so happy to have seen the Pope up close and prayed along with him all the people of the world.
Wednesday, June 25th, at 8:30am in St. Peter’s Square. The crowds began to form at 7:00am. We are in the middle near a barricade for good photos of the Pope when he comes by in his Popemobile.
All along the traffic lane for the Popemobile there are Swiss Guards stationed along with Polizia from Rome. They must be Catholic, single men, between the ages of 20 and 32, having served in the Swiss Army.
The excitement builds along the barricades waiting for the Pope to come by.
Il Papa, The Pope, The Holy Father. I am just below the lens of my Mom’s camera as we get the first photo of him in his Popemobile.
The Pope was always smiling and waving to crowd and sometimes he would stop and hug someone or give them a handshake.
Now he is right in front of me but I am so small compared to the other people he can’t see me. I wish he had stopped to shake hands.
He rode around the square like this for close to half-hour. We were lucky to be so near.
This is Frederick and I am now in Firenze (Florence). More later. Ciao!
How fortunate you are to have had the opportunity. So many never get the chance.
He is a very interesting man, indeed.
P.S. I’m glad he did away with the bulletproof glass. He stands up against violence, and all the taller for his decision.