June 30

After the robbery, we had to buy ourselves clothes at a cheap store. Then we went to a grocery store to buy toiletry items. After showering, we celebrated mass at the convent chapel. After dinner, we all went to bed truly poor!

Early this morning, or went to St. Peter's Basilica to celebrate Mass. This is the sacristy.

Father Terry and I sat on a bench and prayed Morning Prayer with our phones. The thieves had stolen our Breviaries.

We celebrated mass in the chapel of the patron saints of Europe, Cyril and Methodius. Today is the feast day of the first martyrs of Rome. Both the feast and the assigned readings made for a very emotional Mass together. No one can rob us of the graces of this Pilgrimage, even the most vicious of thieves. Like the first martyrs of Rome, we are called to be witnesses of God's love in a world that is tempted to become bitter and angry when life deals unjust blows.

Three sisters from the Philippines joined us for Mass.

After Mass, we took a brief tour around the Basilica. Giancarlo, Bill, and Tony were much happier today.

We said a prayer at the tomb of St. Pius X, where his body is buried under this Altar.

Bill, Evonne, and Marielle were enjoying their first visit to the Basilica.

We took the metro to the American Embassy, where we waited in line behind all the other Americans who had fallen victim to thieves.  There was a group of forty kids who had all of their belongings stolen from their locked bus yesterday. Although it took 2 1/2 hours, the process went more smoothly than we had imagined. We are now enjoying lunch, and will regroup to tour Rome, hoping that no more disasters will occur before coming home. 

As you can see, we are in much better moods today. This group is learning to recover quickly.

After lunch, we returned to the embassy, where we had to wait for another hour for our passports to be printed. We jumped into two taxis, and sped to the Vatican Museum.

There we met Liz Lev, a very good friend of Paolo's. She is the daughter of Mariy Ann Glendon, the former ambassador of United States to the Vatican. She gave us a fabulous tour of the Vatican Museum, with a special emphasis on Michelangelo.

She helped us understand the cultural situation of Michelangelo, and everything that led to his sculpture and painting. That also included the design of the dome which he planned for St. Peter's Basilica in his last years. We finally ended our tour with the Sistine Chapel, where there were very few people.

She took us to the doors of St. Peter's Basilica, or we could see the setting sun illuminating the city.

She gave a wonderful explanation of the Pieta, and led us to the altar where St. John XXIII is buried.

Pilgrims have venerated the feet of the statue of St. Peter for so many centuries, that the toes are worn off.

We left the Piazza surrounded by the columns designed by Bernini, had a drink with Liz, and went with Paolo to have a wonderful supper with his friends. We have experienced wonderful hospitality and kindness from people who have looked us in the face. We have also experienced terrible suffering in the darkness of those we have never seen. It seems that the Lord is teaching us to travel more lightly.