New Year's Day and Mass with Pope Francis

Pope Francis

We were lucky enough to score four tickets to mass with Pope Francis during our visit to Rome. While we had hoped to get six, ticket demand was overwhelming and we were lucky to get any. While we did indeed have tickets to guarantee getting a seat, in hopes of getting a good one we had to be at St Peter's Square at 6am! Steve was generous and let me be the adult and AJ, Stefanie and Dominic decided to join me. Rachel opted out because she could not wrap her head around being out of the hotel at 530am! And for anyone who has ever spent a morning at our house, you understand why this would be hard for our night owl.

6am! Stefanie, Missy, AJ & Dominic

Once we got to the square we found our group, Steve's cousins Terry and Dianne and Terry's daughter Charlotte as well as their friends who were also visiting Rome. We got in a line outside of St Peter's Square. The Square is actually closed overnight and no one was quite clear about where the security line would be opening. Lucky for us our group had good information and about 730am the line opened right behind where we were standing. So then we rushed with the crowd to the front of the security queue where we waited, again, for about another hour. We were packed in tightly in the queue that is probably 10 people wide. The bonus was we weren't cold anymore. When that line opened an hour later it got interesting. People ran and made their around you trying to get to the security scanners. Dominic tried to block the line for our group of seven and two little old ladies pushed and shoved their way around him, slid in front of us, threw their bags on the belt and ran through the scanner. I am not kidding. We all cleared security easily and then headed for the church and at this point, we were jogging too. Our next good tip was not to rush to the front, but to find seats on the center aisle. So we picked three rows and the boys sat in one, Stef and I in the next one and Steve's cousins behind us. This insured we would all really be able to see Pope Francis.

Waiting for Mass
Stefanie, AJ, Dominic & Missy

Charlotte, Terry, AJ, Stefanie, Missy, Dominic & Dianne

Mass started promptly at 10am with a long procession of altar servers, visiting priests bishops and cardinals. Then came Pope Francis. They do not take security lightly when it comes to him. In addition to the Michelangelo costumed Swiss guard there were at least 8 other suited up, earpieces in ear, gun carrying guards surrounding the pope. They are not fooling around when it comes to his safety.

Mass was beautiful, sitting in the Basilica listening to the choir and the flow of the Mass was an incredible and unforgettable experience. Mass was of course said in Latin and the homily was in Italian but I'm so happy that we got to be a part of it. I really admire this pope and I think he has real potential to make a difference in our world.

After mass we exited onto St Peter's Square for the Pope's blessing. Rachel and Steve were out there too. They had arrived at 830am to an empty square and were right at the front near a jumbotron where they watched the entire mass.

Rachel

By the time mass was over the square was completely packed but we successfully found them after the blessing.

St Peter's Square after mass

Papal Blessing

Next we were headed for a family lunch with a quick stop back at hotels first. We took Charlotte back to our hotel with us as she and Rachel and Stefanie had become fast friends. Charlotte and Rachel especially seemed to be two peas in a pod.

Metro - Rachel, AJ, Stefanie & Charlotte

But this is where it got tricky. We walked from our hotel to the restaurant and as we passed through the Trevi Fountain Square we lost Rachel and Charlotte but we didn't realize it until two turns later. Can you say stress? First Steve went back and couldn't find them, then Steve and the boys went back a little further and still couldn't find them. We all returned to the Trevi Fountain and I stayed at the fountain while everyone else took a street. Sure enough a few minutes later AJ came through the crowd with the two of them in tow. Not a fun 30 minutes.

The Lost Girls
Rachel & Charlotte

Afterwards, lunch was lovely and fun and relaxing. What a bonus that here in Europe we were able to spend our holiday with family!