A trip so jam packed I have decided to split it into 2 posts. My experience at The Vatican was unforgettable and I thought it deserved its own post. I spent only 2 days in Rome and I was nowhere close to getting to see everything I planned on visiting. I had researched Pope Francis' travel schedule a few times before and was elated when I found out he would be there the day I planned on visiting. Friday afternoon I stood in line for 2 hours with the hopes of making the cut to get into Pope Francis' Penitential Celebration. The Celebration was the start of a 24 hour prayer period during the Pentecost season where individuals gathered for parts of mass and a homily from the Pope, followed by time in which you were able to go to confession. As I stood in the line that wrapped all the way around the Vatican I prayed I would make it in for this once in a lifetime chance. Growing up you only dream of seeing the Pope, let alone actually being able to attend a mass and homily that he says in St. Peters Basilica. The Celebration started at 5 and at exactly 4:57 I made it through security and the doors of the Basilica before the line was cut off. We entered through the main doors and I was immediately in awe of my surroundings. I pushed and squeezed my way through, trying to get a seat as close as I could. Granted we barely made the cut to get in, but we made it a decent distance from the back of the church. We were handed a pamphlet (all in Italian) and took our seats. Surrounded my priests, nuns, people of all ethnicities and languages, we awaited the Pope to enter. At once everyone rose and the mass started. I attempted to read and sing along in Italian, at times I was able to know what was being said because of gestures made in prayer that I was familiar with. Of course even though it was mass, there were hundreds of cameras, iPads, go pros, you name it. At first I felt it wasn't acceptable to be taking pictures in Mass, but then I knew it was something I had to document, so I took a few minutes to photograph the scene before putting away my camera.
(The small purple dot to the left of the gold and purple statue is Pope Francis)
As Pope Francis spoke I took in all my surroundings. The detail of the sculptures, the architecture, each and every aspect of the church covered in gold. They were all things that I will never forget. From the nun that sat to the left of me, the delicate sound that came form the Harp near the altar, to the words slowly pronounced by Pope Francis in Italian. It all made for the perfect holy moment. As we left the church, the Vatican was perfectly lit by the sunset and the sound of the choir filled the city for the ideal exit only to return the next day.
Saturday we had planned on getting up around 7 to be one of the first in line for the Vatican Museum. As you probably guessed, that did not happen. We grabbed a stack of chocolate chip pancakes and hopped on the metro around 10. As we arrived to the Museum we stood in line with the other hundreds of people who had the same idea and waited to enter. We had our minds set on getting to the Sistine Chapel, which was at the very end of the museum, but I didn't realize how much other art was displayed in the museum. From small statues of animals that were only a foot tall, to rugs that were hand stitched that took up an entire wall, and maps from thousands of years ago with only a few cities marked. Not only were the displayed pieces incredible, but the building itself was a work of art. Each column carefully detailed, every wall unscripted in a variety of ways, and the ceiling of each room uniquely painted. We finally stood in line to enter the Sistine Chapel along with what felt like everyone else in the world. We entered and immediately bent our necks to stare straight up. I had imagined more of a chapel instead of just a large room, but none the less the painting was a masterpiece. To think that one man painted all of that on his own is incredible and something I would never expect from an artist today. After being squished and sore from staring up for so long we exited the museum and made our way to our next location.
(And no that is not the Sistine Chapel below, just a hallway with maps)
As Pope Francis spoke I took in all my surroundings. The detail of the sculptures, the architecture, each and every aspect of the church covered in gold. They were all things that I will never forget. From the nun that sat to the left of me, the delicate sound that came form the Harp near the altar, to the words slowly pronounced by Pope Francis in Italian. It all made for the perfect holy moment. As we left the church, the Vatican was perfectly lit by the sunset and the sound of the choir filled the city for the ideal exit only to return the next day.
Saturday we had planned on getting up around 7 to be one of the first in line for the Vatican Museum. As you probably guessed, that did not happen. We grabbed a stack of chocolate chip pancakes and hopped on the metro around 10. As we arrived to the Museum we stood in line with the other hundreds of people who had the same idea and waited to enter. We had our minds set on getting to the Sistine Chapel, which was at the very end of the museum, but I didn't realize how much other art was displayed in the museum. From small statues of animals that were only a foot tall, to rugs that were hand stitched that took up an entire wall, and maps from thousands of years ago with only a few cities marked. Not only were the displayed pieces incredible, but the building itself was a work of art. Each column carefully detailed, every wall unscripted in a variety of ways, and the ceiling of each room uniquely painted. We finally stood in line to enter the Sistine Chapel along with what felt like everyone else in the world. We entered and immediately bent our necks to stare straight up. I had imagined more of a chapel instead of just a large room, but none the less the painting was a masterpiece. To think that one man painted all of that on his own is incredible and something I would never expect from an artist today. After being squished and sore from staring up for so long we exited the museum and made our way to our next location.
(And no that is not the Sistine Chapel below, just a hallway with maps)
I highly recommend visiting Vatican City to everyone, Catholic or not. It is the most holy place I have ever visited and am ever so grateful I was able to experience something most people do not have the opportunity to do. Here in the next day or so I will upload another post about my other adventures in Rome! I don't think I realized how big of a city Rome was and how many attractions were in the city until I arrived, but we tried to cross as many off our list as we could! Check back later this week!
Always,
Sam
Always,
Sam