Day Two

this is after the fact too with the crazy italian keyboard!

We went to the Vatican today and heard the Pope. We were announced by one of the American priests. There were over 100,000 people from all over the world speaking every language you can image. Like the tower of babble. A group of French priests were in front of me and Jackie. It was drizzling and I offered them an umbrella but they turned it down so when they weren't looking I held it partly over their heads to keep them dry! Corporal work of mercy.

The vatican is very large. The first part of the day was beautiful and sunny until late when it sprinkled. We bought lunch off a cart it was some kind of pizza sandwich. Man was it good! We didn't get to see much of the vatican that was for Thursday when we return. We went on another tour of churches. This time bascillica of Mary Major where there is a piece of the true cross, the body of pope pius, relics of St. Jerome a martyr, and a 5th century icon. Next was Holy Cross were we saw another piece of the true cross, nails and thorns of the crucifiction of Jesus. There was a copy of the shroud of christ and sand from golgitha. Oh and the finger of St. Thomas. The church had been the house of constantine's mother who collected these relics when he converted and declared christianity the state religion. Then off to St. John Lateran which is dedicated to the Baptist St. John. It houses the relics of St. John the baptist, St Paul, St Peter and a piece of the last supper table. Everyday we have mass at one of the churches today it was here. A group of nuns joined us. I prayed again for you and all your special intentions. I was very moved and humbled by this day.