Phil has been present in Rome as the city and the world have mourned the passing of Pope John Paul II. Read just a tiny piece of what he has been experiencing there.
Rome really feels like the center of the planet this week. With 2 million people expected including 200 dignitaries/heads of state and news services from all over the world already here, it seems like everyone has this city on their mind. It is impossible to avoid the excitement and crowds. Even in the far east of Rome where I live, the Termini train station near my apartment is open all night emptying people into the city.
The true immensity of the amount of mourners is only evident near the Vatican though. On Tuesday evening around 11pm I joined the line to pay final respects to Pope John Paul II. The beginning of the line was at the Tiber River near Castel San Angelo. I had no idea what the next twelve hours would have in store for me. Packed body to body, weaving down the streets of the Vatican, tens (hundreds????) of thousands of people stood in the line. I felt like a herd of cattle in some massive, slow moving cattle drive. Between 11 and 2 we moved although slowly down Borgo Pio. Then the line came to a grinding halt.
You'll have to read his blog to hear the rest of his moving account.
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