Stage 19, June 29

We got up early, loaded the van with our luggage, prayed morning prayer, and ate breakfast of bread and coffee. Bill Corbett looked like Purdue Pete when he finished fixing his bike.

The 40 mile ride into Rome was relatively easy. This field of sunflowers was beautiful.

It is impossible to describe our feelings as we rode into St. Peter's Square. On the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the Square was crowded with people. The Pope was celebrating Mass inside Saint Peter's Basilica, and he was at the Sanctus when we arrived. The crowd was following the Mass on the monitors set around the Square. Here are the five of us who made the entire Pillgrimage from Canterbury to Rome.

Here are Paolo and Giancarlo, father and son.

The Schooler family is very happy.

So is the Corbett family.

The pastor and parochial vicar of St. Pius Parish in Granger do not usually spend Sundays here.

At noon, Pope Francis appeared on the balcony and led the assembled crowd in praying the Angelus.  He made some comments about Saint Peter and Saint Paul. He gave us his blessing. He really is in this window! The zoom on this phone is not so good.

After the Angelus, we walked our bikes to the Convent where we are staying. Janet had parked the van in the appropriate place. When Paolo reached it, he found that the window was broken and absolutely everything was stolen. All of us have lost everything, clothing, computers, passports, everything! Paolo and Janet filed a police report. We learned how to do that in Lucca! The end of our pilgrimage went from ecstasy to agony. We are now in the process of trying to figure out what to do.