Update (May 2005)

It is Wednesday and I am sitting in my room in Rome.  Outside are the sounds of traffic and sirens and, I know without looking, that there are streams of people heading towards St. Peter’s Square.  Later on, I will wander through the streets to be part of the crowd of people coming to be part of this historic event of the death and burial of Pope John Paul II.  The line waiting to view the body was very long last night – 20-deep, mashed together, down the street from St. Peter’s Square for six blocks, around the block and all the way back.  This morning, I understand it loops back and extends along another street!   Young, old, with wheel chairs, canes and high heels, women and men of all nationalities and religions mix together – truly an experience of the universal church.  Thousands of young people are here and many more are coming.