3/30/24

As I walk the streets of Rome I’m struck by how deeply catholicism is embedded in this culture. In signage, in stores, at any given moment you’re likely to see a priest or a nun shopping, talking on a cell phone, having a cappuccino. It becomes a non-moment.
During the height of the Covid days, I started wearing a Saint Jude medal. I’m not really sure why. I’m not a deeply religious person, but I figured it couldn’t hurt. He’s the patron saint of lost causes and it somehow gave me comfort.
On Good Friday I heard the Pope was going to preside over the Way of the Cross at the Coliseum. The Way of the Cross is a procession that commemorates the moments leading to the crucifixion. It was scheduled for 9pm. I got there around 6:30 and while I wasn’t one of the first, I was able to get close. People were excited and emotional in anticipation to see Papa.
But he didn’t show; the red pop-up Pope tent stayed empty. The next day I heard he wanted to save his energy for later events. Perhaps he was worried he wouldn’t make it to Sunday, they say he’s not well.
At around 10:30 I, and tens of thousands left disappointed.