Ciao, Rome Chorus Trip and Pilgrimage Students and Families,
I am not sure of where to begin with what and how to capture what we experienced today. While the conventional wisdom is to start at the beginning, today was not a conventional day by any stretch of the imagination. Given that, I’ll begin with the talk of our tour: our amazing opportunity to have sung for and greet our Holy Father Pope Francis.
We entered Saint Peter’s Square as the sun set over the Basilica. Robed in our red robes and shining white stoles, we secured a space immediately across from the Vatican Nativity crèche which Pope Francis was scheduled to visit and bless after the Vespers Prayer and Te Deum in the Basilica. As the Prayer ended, the space in front of the crèche was cleared of other visitors, barricades were moved aside, and dignitaries arrived to await the arrival of the Holy Father.
As the bells pealed, signaling the end of the prayers, we heard the beat of drums and the precise cadence of soldiers’ boots marching across the well-worn cobblestones of the piazza. As we looked to our right, we spied the resplendent purple and gold uniforms of the Swiss Guard and the Vatican musicians processing into the Square. Their appearance precipitated the arrival of the Holy Father; the excitement grew as they played a repertoire of Christmas carols and hymns. A caravan of cars conveying cardinals, the Princes of Church, pulled onto the piazza. This signified that His Holiness was soon to appear. Moments later, a figure clad in pure white silk walked down the avenue of the faithful who had gathered. Pope Francis had arrived in Saint Peter’s Square. The throngs of people cheered for “Papa,” joyful - as we were - to be with the Holy Father and join in his prayers of thanksgiving for 2019 and the hopes and promises of the new decade.
The Pope processed to the Crèche to offer his prayers and then greeted the dignitaries gathered close to the obelisk that towers in the Square. As Pope Francis turned to face the crowd, the Austin Prep chorus began to sing “Angels We Have Heard on High.” The Christmas hymn and the students’ red robes attracted the Pope’s attention. He began to make his way to the Chorus and listen to their song. As Pope Francis walked up to the Chorus, he touched the hands of Chorus members and gestured his welcome and prayers with his warm expression of Christmas joy to students and families alike. The Pope smiled as the Chorus began their second song “Star of Wonder,” and continued to walk among the Austin Prep delegation. Thus forever stands Austin Prep’s 2019 encounter with the Holy Father - the Pontifex Maximus - who was happy to hear our students’ song and to welcome us to the Eternal City of Rome and offer prayers for us and our school.
As students and families returned to the bus, we shared stories of our experience with the Pope and the photographs that we took. The group was abuzz with the special blessing of this moment as we enjoyed a special New Year’s Eve Dinner at the Cardinal Hotel Saint Peter: cartoccetto di vegetali, ravioli al Ragu, petto di pollo cremolato ai funghi, and millefoglie al cucchiaio con crema chantilly e cioccolato fuso.
With all the excitement of the afternoon, the stories of this morning’s visits - themselves special trips and vital parts of the pilgrimage - seem somewhat distant memories. We visited three Papal Basilicas - Saint Mary Major, Saint John in Lateran, and Saint Paul Outside the Walls. I could write pages on each of them.
Saint Mary Major houses the relics of the Manger of the Nativity and includes a ceiling gilt in gold brought from the Americas as a gift from the Spanish monarchs to Pope Alexander Borgia during the time of Columbus. The baroque master Bernini has a tomb situated to the side of the altar.
Saint John in Lateran is the Cathedral Church of Rome and the seat of the Pope; frescoes by Giotto, a reliquary high above the altar, striking mosaics, and mammoth baroque statues of the twelve apostles fill the cavernous space.
Saint Paul Outside the Walls welcomes visitors into a palatial courtyard with a mosaic frontispiece of the Four Evangelists above the portico. Inside, mosaic medallions of the 266 popes tell the history of Papal leadership while the sarcophagus of Saint Paul lies in the altar undercroft and the chains that held him captive for his faith are encased at eye level to invite pilgrims to pause and ponder.
As 2019 draws to a close - and the sound of fireworks reverberates from the Piazza del Popolo and the crowds assembled on the Circus Maximus - we are so thankful to have had such a magnificent and blessed day to conclude this decade.
Happy New Year’s Eve!
Michael McLaughlin
Head of Middle School