Scala Sancta and Scavi Tour...

Two more highlights of the Rome+Vatican leg of the Euro trip - a somewhat private tour of the Vatican Necropolis and the grave of St. Peter and ascending the marble stairs believed to have been walked on by Jesus Christ on his way to Pontius Pilate.

The Scala Sancta and Sancta Sanctorum. Across the basilica of St. John the Lateran is a nondescript building that houses the Scala Sancta or Pilates Stairs. It is believed that the Scala Sancta is the actual staircase Jesus Christ ascended on his way to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate for his trial. The stairs were taken to Rome in the 4th century by Emperor Constantine's mother St. Helena. The marble stairs have been encased in protective wood and may only be ascended on one's knees. At the top of the stairs is the Sancta Sanctorum, the personal chapel of the early Popes. Ascending 28 steps on one's knees sounds easy but as I soon found out, it wasn't. As a Catholic and a Christian pilgrim, being blessed with the experience to climb the stairs was a tiny way of honoring the Passion of Jesus Christ. It was a deeply profound and spiritual experience. It also doesn't hurt that a plenary indulgence is granted to those who ascend the stairs on their knees (or so I've read).

St. Peter's Tomb and the Vatican Necropolis. I read about the Scavi Tour while doing research for the trip. Organized by the Vatican Excavations Office, the Scavi Tour is a rare opportunity to visit the Vatican necropolis and St. Peter's burial place. (Only 250 people are allowed into the Necropolis per day!) If there's a lesson to be learned, it's persistence. I wrote to the Excavations Office on 21 March and 22 March to register for the tour. As expected, all slots were taken. I decided to write again a few days before our trip. To my immense surprise, I received an email saying that we have been registered for the tour! Persistence and a lot of prayer. Haha! There were about 10-12 of us in the group. We were led by one of the curators of the Excavations office. It was an exciting tour because it felt like being in a National Geographic documentary or the movie Da Vinci Code. In some chambers, the mosaic tiles decorations are still intact. It is really amazing when one realizes how old the structure is. No photography allowed though.

Good thing I threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain. Hopefully, I'll be back in Rome one day and I'll get to visit the last of the four papal basilicas and complete my papal basilica pilgrimage.

Visit to three of the four Papal Basilicas...

When MkSurf8 and RKGreg went to Rome last year (or was it two years ago?), I asked MkSurf8 to bring back a rosary from the Vatican for me.

He brought back one beautiful rosary, which I've been using until now.

What I like about the rosary he got me was that each papal basilica was etched on the bead in which the Our Father is recited. This was partly an inspiration for me to want to go to Rome and the Vatican during Holy Week and be able to visit the basilicas.

While I was dragging PG Boy to the different churches and basilicas, I told him that I wanted to go to the four papal basilicas. He asked what a papal basilica meant. Lol! I didn't know exactly. I just assumed that they were very important churches.

But I did my research when I got back and I found out that Papal Basilica is the title given to the four highest-ranking Roman Catholic churches. The most popular, naturally, is Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano (St. Peter's Basilica) since it is the centre of the Vatican City. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Saint Mary Major) is believed to be the oldest church in the west dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, while Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano (Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran) is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, of which the Pope is bishop.

The only basilica we didn't get to visit was St. Paul Outside of the Walls. Just as St. Peter's Basilica was built over the burial location of St. Peter, this basilica was built over the burial place of the St. Paul. We missed going to this basilica because I spent a few hours at Via Condotti. Lol! :-S

Will have to go back someday then.

The bambino who got a kiss from Papa Francesco...

I guess I should start writing about the recently concluded Europe trip.

Hmm, I'l probably begin with one of the highlights during the Rome/Vatican leg of the trip.

PG Boy and I woke up very early for the Papal Audience gathering. While I am used to waking up at ungodly hours, it was a huge challenge for PG Boy to wake up at 5AM. I'm really glad that he got up to join me for the gathering.

Thankfully, our place was within walking distance to Piazza San Pietro. We left the place close to 630 and reached the piazza 10 minutes later.

As expected, a queue was already forming.

By 7, the security started letting people in to the barricaded area. I rushed to one of the front rows close to the centre aisle. I thought surely the Pope will pass by this area.

Hours later, the crowd had swelled to tens of thousands. We were really grateful we followed the tip of my friend Krissie to be at the piazza really early.

Finally, the most awaited moment came.

While anticipating the Pope mobile to pass by our area, a group of people behind me called my attention. They probably realised I had a good spot. I thought they were going to ask to stand in my spot and I was more than ready to say no. Lol! I dunno if and when I'll see the Pope up close again; there was no way I was going to give up my spot.

One of the ladies spoke to me in Italian. I replied saying I do not understand Italian. She then just pointed to her son and said, "Bambino."

When I saw that the Pope mobile was approaching, I took the boy and raised him high. It was very Mufasa and Simba in Lion King. Haha! I was too starstruck though. I don't remember ever yelling "Papa Francesco!" The next thing I know, one of the Pope's security took the little boy from me and brought him over to the Pope.

The photo above shows what happened next.

When the security guy brought back the kid to me, I took the clueless kid and returned him to his mom. What followed was the entire group all smiling at us, patting me on the shoulder and saying continuously, "Bravo! Bravo!"

Today, I emailed the photo to the mom. I never even got her name. I just got her email address. Above was the reply I got.

Thankfully, PG Boy was able to capture the moment on cam. Without a doubt, it was really a huge thing for the family.

I'm glad PG Boy and I were of help.