An account of Sunday's Papal mass in Rome

[fpb]

An excellent account of what actually happened two days ago in Rome, by an American visitor: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10051702.html . As I was in the city at the time (thouth I wasn't able to see the ceremony, being busy some twenty miles away), I

Comments

[expectare]

'scuz the Pope is so awesome all the powers of nastiness cannot prevail against him!

[fpb]

One thing that I should also have mentioned is that the atmosphere of affection and general happiness she describes is so natural to us that I did at first find it slightly surprising that she should remark on it. It is not only a matter of the Pope, although he of course draws it more than most. In the last few weeks, for instance, there have been gatherings of Alpini and Bersaglieri veterans - the Alpini one was estimated at half a million - and I feel pretty sure that the same atmosphere of affectionate celebration must have prevailed. Even the Communist festivals - Festa dell'Unita', they are called - are festive and cheerful occasions, attended by man people whom wild horses could not get to vote for the Party; they are simply good times. Likewise the town and city festivals (sagre), arts festivals, and so on. The exception, alas, is soccer, where the thugs have more or less taken over organized support, and people like me never go near a stadium if we can help it - not because we don't love the game, but because we like to