A Moment With The Popes

After spending some time in prayer before the image of San Lorenzo Ruiz, we made our way to the remaining unvisited areas in the basilica. We walked past still some monuments of popes as well as regal personalities who have been buried in the crypt. We also peeked through at the Basilica's Museo Tesoro, a repository of the Vatican's treasures.

Strangely, our last leg (or legs) inside this church was at the holy water font held by two larger than life marble statues of cherubims. A gentleman, an American it seems, offered to take our photo. Unfortunately we were unable to return the favor as more and more people wanted to take their pictures in that spot! Trailblazing, that's what I call it!

The very center of the aisle is secured by wooden panels and for a very good reason. It features other renowned churches in the world and how their lengths compare with St Peter's (which measures 186.36 meters long). Among the churches included are the Anglican St Paul's Cathedral in London (158.10 meters, second longest church) and St Patrick's Cathedral in New York (101.19 meters, the shortest in the list).

On both sides of the central nave are statues of saints who have founded religious congregations. I saw the statues of Sts John Bosco, John de la Salle, St Philip Neri, to name a few.

We then left through the uscita (exit) and spent a few minutes taking our packed snack at the square near the altar where the Pope says Mass on special occasions like Easter (weather permitting!). We cut our snack short as some pilgrims were having a fag (i.e. smoking).

One of the personalities we missed during our holiday in Rome was Benedict XVI who was on a papal visit to one part of Italy further north during that time. We did, however, pay our respects to some of his predecessors whose mortal remains lie in the crypt.

The word 'crypt' sends a chill in the spine, but when we entered that place I didn't feel afraid. The place was well lit and well ventilated. A marble statue of St Peter welcomes pilgrims entering through. I kissed the right foot as I wasn't able to do that on the bronze statue up in the basilica.

We also had a better view of St Peter's tomb in this area of the basilica; one could see the confessio directly from here.

We saw the tomb of quite a number of popes; some were buried on tombs or nitso as we call it in Filipino, while others were buried on the ground. Pope John Paul I, who ruled the Church for merely 33 days, was buried in a tomb while Popes Paul VI and John Paul II preferred to be on the earth - both popes indicated this in their last will. I've focused on just these three popes as their reign occured when I came into this world. Paul VI was at the helm when I was born. He was then succeeded by John Paul I who in turn was replaced by John Paul II. Paul VI and John Paul II visited the Philippines as well with the latter visiting us not once but twice. It's on the "twice" that we encountered him as we were then participants in the World Youth Day in Manila.

Most pilgrims were crowding on one grotto where a handful of properly dressed ushers were also stationed. It's the burial site of John Paul II. I was about to take a photo, but was prohibited. We gazed at that beautiful and solemn spot where this most loved pope is now resting.

We wanted to stay a bit, but were "sternly" (I don't know if this is the right word; it might just have been how Italians communicate.) instructed to leave to give way to other pilgrims. Before leaving, I whispered "John Paul 2, we love you!"

Up Next: In Search for the Sistine Chapel