Once, Twice, Almost Three Times The Pope

I grew up Catholic. I went to church almost every Sunday of my life until I was in my mid-twenties.

Several major Catholic events have happened in the last month that I’ve been in Italy: Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, the Beatification of Pope John Paul II. I attended two of these events, and nearly caught Pope Benedict XVI a third time!

Palm Sunday Mass

As a kid, Palm Sunday was always a “Do I have to?” kind of day for me. It marks the beginning of Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter) – and it is the longest mass of the year. I’m talking lllllooooonnnnnggggg. And you have to be on your feet for a good chunk of it.

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Palm Sunday Mass. I’m out of practice, as I have mixed feelings about my faith.

But I’m not so confused that I’d miss out on attending Palm Sunday mass with the POPE!

I joined about one hundred bajillion zillion people at St. Peter’s Square to see Pope Benedict XVI preside over an outdoor mass for Palm Sunday (April 17, 2011).

It doesn’t take a religious fanatic or even a Catholic to appreciate the energy that I felt there. The sun was shining, there was cheering and laughing and singing. People were waving palm leaves and olive branches in the air. Flags from various countries were swaying with the light breeze. Groups of people were spontaneously serenading “Happy Birthday” to the Pope who had turned 84 the day before. There were smiles and happy faces everywhere. It felt joyous and – despite the massive crowd – peaceful.

I had shown up in the third and final hour of the mass (toldja it was long!), which was just enough for me. It was quite an experience!

Easter Sunday

I even came back for Easter mass the following Sunday.

(Two days prior was Good Friday – when the Pope leads an evening candlelit procession from St. Peter’s Basilica to The Colosseum and holds a ceremony in the ancient ruins. I missed this, as I had gone to Tuscany for a couple days, but I caught some of it on TV. WHY they hold one of the most holy ceremonies of the Catholic faith in a place where gladiators used to battle lions and tigers…I have no idea!)

It was more or less the same energy as on Palm Sunday…massive crowds, beautiful sunshiny day. But this time I came at the beginning of mass so I got to see the Pope come out on his motor carriage and all that pomp and circumstance.

Last Weekend

The Pope must’ve gotten a hold of my travel itinerary because he happened to be in Venice on my originally planned arrival date last weekend!

I wonder if he reads my blog.

Anyway, if I really wanted to, I could’ve seen the Pope a third time. But the novelty had long worn off, plus I cannot handle any more of these crowds.

Speaking of which, said crowds are the precise reason I could not get a good photo of the pope. My “I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller” prayers have long been ignored. These are the best photos I could get! And this first one’s from a jumbo-tron screen, haha.

Hallelujah, y’all. I saw the POPE!

Twice!