We were in Florence when we heard the news of his death. We all thought, "Wow! We're in Italy and one of the most famous popes of all time just died. Wow."

Our trip would take us to Rome and the Vatican City a week later after his death. We all wondered, "Will we get to see the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica?" What would being there be like?

When we got to Rome, we spent our first evening standing outside of St. Peter's Basilica, standing right where all those mourners had been, watching those two windows just one week before. We even watched on large screens in St Peter's Square the mass going on just inside. It was really an experience!

We did get to see the inside of St. Peter's Basilica, but sadly the Sistine Chapel was closed. It was being furnished for the cardinals who would decide on the next pope, only one week later.

Seeing St Peter's Basilica made up for missing the Sistine Chapel, though. After we had been in St Peter's about fifteen minutes, one of the seven mourning masses began. All 182 Cardinals marched in, Cardinal Ratzinger included. So it turns out I even saw the future Pope. Even if he wasn't the Pope yet, I saw him.

There was some cool singing by priests and nuns during the mass. We were also amazed by all of the gold and beautiful mosaics inside. It was totally awesome.

This is a picture of me in St. Peter's Square:

Traveling and Reporting,

artista :-)