In the chapel of Saint Peter

Today was finally the canonization. I woke up early and went to St. Peter's Square. After the security check I stood so close to the square for the first time and was totally amazed that I had a seat quite up front. I was also given a booklet that allowed me to follow the Mass closely. Actually the first time these days that I understood anything. That was because almost everything was in Latin and everything was translated into English on the page next to it. How beautiful it is that we have a world church.

After Mass, everyone wanted to be photographed with the Holy Father, the Pope, as he drove around. I had no luck in that. I was lucky, however, to be close to the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica. I asked the police where the line was and they pointed me to the line. I joined that at the front. I stood I think for about 10 minutes waiting in the blazing sun. Just as I was about to grab my umbrella, everyone started running. The main entrance opened. After almost running over, I arrived in the vestibule which was already imposing. After I was inside, I had arrived in a majestic church. A large space with all kinds of things to see.

After greeting Our Lord, I also just started playing the tourist and taking pictures of everything. It is a beautiful church with a worn confessional here and there or some carts crisscrossing among the thousands of people. The selfies are really terrible, but it proves that I did go inside.

I was quite hungry for lunch even before I went in, but I still thought the lunch you can have anywhere was less important than having to stand in line for three to five hours otherwise. So today was another lucky day. This whole trip actually. I am blessed in everything. And so in gratitude I lit a candle, well, lit a candle..... I turned on a switch to Mary and prayed for my family and friends, in the broadest sense.