Monday, April 4

Monday morning, April 4, began with Morning Prayer and breakfast. It is a beautiful, sunny day. The Holy Father celebrated Mass in the Santa Marta chapel at 7 am.  Among the concelebrants were a group of Italian priests celebrating their 50th anniversary of ordination and Bishop Paul Sanchez, auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn.  After some photographs, Pope Francis came into the refectory for breakfast.  Security was more evident than the last time I visited here.  And you don't see as much of the Holy Father around Santa Marta as on previous visits.

Father Jason and I walked across the yard to St. Peter's Basilica where we celebrated the Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation at the Altar of the Sacred Heart.  It is always a thrill to be here and celebrate Mass.  We returned to Santa Marta around 9 a.m. to relax a bit before heading out.

We enjoyed pranzo with a staff member of the Congregation for Divine Worship around 1 p.m. I have a request pending before that Congregation.  The rest of the day was quiet. In the evening, Father Jason and I headed to Piazza Novonna and Piazza Pantheon for a little supper at Da Fortunato, my favorite restaurant in Rome, where we discussed some planning for the Diocese. I met Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, on the way out. Rome is a "small city." Earlier in the day, I greeted two friends from my seminary days on the Borgo Pio.

Tomorrow, I will welcome the pilgrims as they arrive at the airport and board our tour bus.  Looking forward to seeing everyone!  Stay tuned.

Sunday, April 3

To see photos from Bishop O'Connell, click here.


Father Jason Parzynski and I arrived in Rome on Saturday morning, April 2, to cloudy skies.  There was a great deal of turbulence on the flight from Philadelphia, more than either of us had ever encountered before.  It was warm outside, although many Romans we saw on the ride in from the airport still wore coats and scarves.

The Domus Sanctae Marthae (Santa Marta) was a buzz as we entered.  Heightened security was evident all around the residence of Pope Francis where we were staying and at St. Peter's Basilica close by.  Public papal events were scheduled Saturday and Sunday and the colorful Swiss Guard were visible at virtually every entrance, along with Carabinieri and Roman Police.

We stopped in the Chapel of "Santa Marta" for a visit after our arrival and then made our way to our rooms.  This building, one of the newest in Vatican City, was built to house the College of Cardinals during papal conclaves and other gatherings of bishops from around the world.  In addition to being the "home of the Pope," Santa Marta also serves as the residence of staff working at the Vatican as well as other guests of the Holy See.  It is a lovely place but very simple in design and decoration.  I have enjoyed being a guest here during my last few visits to Rome.

Father Jason and I then walked across the yard to St. Peter's Basilica.  We prayed at stairs leading to the tomb of St. Peter and walked around this massive Church, the spiritual center of Catholicism.  One of the advantages of being a bishop here is the easy access to so many sites related to the Catholic Church.  We walked (yes, walked!) to the Chiesa Nuova to visit this beautiful baroque style Church and to pray at the tomb of St. Philip Neri, founder of the Oratorians.  The Diocese of Trenton is preparing to establish an Oratory in St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Red Bank, NJ.  Just last week, I met in Trenton with the priest responsible for recommending approval of such efforts to Holy See. I prayed for this initiative at the altar containing St. Philip Neri's body and for God's grace upon our clergy launching this initiative, especially Father Alberto Tamayo, pastor.

We next found ourselves in the Basilica di Santa Maria Soprano Minerva near the Pantheon.  This Dominican Church's sacristy was the site of the famous trial of Galileo in 1633.  It is a dark and musky smelling place but I always pay a visit here, recalling the many times I had celebrated Mass on the side altar over the years.  The body of St. Catherine of Siena is buried here (minus her head) under the central altar as well as the body of the Dominican artist Fra' Angelico.  There is a beautiful statue of St. John the Baptist by Michelangelo near the main altar.  Behind the sacristy are remnants of St. Catherine of Siena's house.  After some prayer, we exited into the small piazza where Bernini's famous "Obelisk of the Elephant" is center stage.  This piazza also plays host to the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy which trains priests for the Church's diplomatic service all over the world.

From there we made the short trek to Campo de' Fiori to visit friends residing at the Cancellaria there, home to the Offices of the Apostolic Signatura (the Church's "Supreme Court").  We had a delightful "pranzo” (lunch) with the senior prelate judge of the Roman Rota (the Church's highest tribunal), Msgr. Robert Sable, at Costanza's Hostaria located in the excavated ruins of the Teatro di Pompeo (dating back to 55 BC), near the site of the assassination of Julius Ceasar in 44 BC.

Toward the end of pranzo, jet lag was making its presence known.  We headed back to Santa Marta for a little nap.

Around 6 p.m., the Holy Father headed over to St. Peter's Basilica for a vigil.  Father Jason and I went out close by for a little pasta about 8:45 p.m. so that we could be back before the gates closed and the doors locked at 10 p.m.  I think we were the "last in."  It was a long day and the bed was calling!  I can't believe I walked 4.6 miles with my prosthetic leg! 

Sunday brought with it sunshine and much excitement.  After praying for a good while in Santa Marta Chapel, Father Jason and I had a little breakfast around 7:30 a.m. --- I was desperate for coffee!  The Secretariat of State sent over two tickets for us to concelebrate Mass with the Holy Father for Divine Mercy Sunday at 10:30 a.m. outside in the piazza of St. Peter's Basilica. It was a glorious Mass, complete with beautiful sacred music provided by the Vatican's Sistine Choir. I offered the Mass for the entire Diocese.  We met up with American Cardinals Timothy Dolan and Edward O'Brien beforehand and chatted a bit.  Pope Francis gave a stirring homily, preaching on the mercy of God and its healing presence in our lives.  "Jesus wishes us to open our closed doors," he said.  Father Jason was invited to distribute Holy Communion at the papal Mass, a great honor.  After Mass, we spoke to Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Austria for a good while.  I had hosted him at The Catholic University of America  in Washington a few times during the years I was president there.  He was selected recently to present the Holy Father's long-awaited apostolic exhortation on the past two Synods of Bishops this coming Friday, April 8.  He shared with us a brief preview, indicating that he believed the document would make an important contribution to moral theology.  Himself a Dominican, Cardinal Schonborn said that the Holy Father frequently quoted the great Dominican philosopher and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas throughout the text.  He commented that the document entitled "Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love)" is written in Pope Francis own style and will be easily read by the faithful.

I find the Roman custom of "riposo" --- a little nap after lunch --- quite a nice practice!  It wouldn't work for me in the Diocese of Trenton, however.  At 7:30 p.m., Father Jason and I took a walk in the neighborhood and ended up at Da Roberto's on the Borgo Pio.  Some wine and a little pasta were the perfect way to end the day and bring the weekend to a close.  On the way back, we ran into Archbishop Roades from the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship.  We have mutual friends and had a lovely conversation.

I look forward to seeing what the next week brings!  Meanwhile, buona notte!