Roma!

To me this picture captures perfectly my first day in Italy. It was absolutely magical.

I will write much more soon, but had to share a few photos interspersed with part of my journal entry to explain what happened my first few hours in the Eternal City...

As we were on the bus for a second go around the city we were planning to get off at the Trevi Fountain, get some dinner, and then do a night walk through Campo de Fiori and then head to St. Peter’s (because I was just dying to see it in person not from the bus and in the glow of evening.) Something even better happened than I had thought. As our bus approached the majestic view of St. Peter’s from atop a hill, we heard the sound of choir singing, and saw that St. Peter’s square was flooded with candle-light. I was in love!

Marcy and I changed our plans, and decided to head to the square. When we go there, we saw several big screens projecting the image of a man who was speaking. I immediately thought it was the Pope. Marcy wasn’t sure, and said that she thought he came out publicly on Wednesdays and Sundays. We worked our way closer, and I asked a guard, “Is the man speaking the Pope?” “Si, si,” he said.

Marcy and I hurried closer into the group. We didn’t have candles, but were now surrounded by their glow. I found a program and with my limited understanding of Italian realized that it was a celebration in honor of Mary, I believe concluding the month of May in her honor (it was May 31st—the feast of the visitation.)


How beautiful and fitting that my first, long dreamed of visit to Rome was on Mary’s day of the Visitation. I have always thought of the visitation as a feast day of friendship, as Mary ran to Elizabeth to share her good news. She wanted to tell her friend, to be with her friend, to not be alone as she was waiting for Christ. As Marcy and I stood there in awe, the Pope raised his hand and offered his blessing. Blessed by the Pope! Less than 12 hours in Rome…

More to come soon!!! Love to you all!