The pope returns to the Vatican

My group is currently enjoying the temporary Caravaggio exhibit in Rome, closed to the general public today, so I thought I’d write you ✍️

My group alone in the Vatican Museums

It’s been a great pilgrimage so far, started with the Scala Santa, followed by renewing our baptismal promises in the Lateran Baptistry, we were alone in the Sistine Chapel, entertained by a very unique artist during a cocktail tasting dinner, made it to three of the four Holy Doors (saving Saint Mary Major for the Annunciation), followed by three nights in Assisi with the guy in charge of the relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, and then…

Pope Francis is back in the Vatican

I’m guessing those “insiders” who pushed the same anonymous source saying the pope had less than 72 hours to live (28 days ago) are feeling pretty silly right now. Actually those people say absurd things for the clicks, they don’t care about their audience.

But great news out of Rome! Pope Francis made his first public appearance since February 14th yesterday from a balcony at Gemelli Hospital, jumped into a white Fiat, took some flowers to Our Lady at Santa Maria Maggiore, and went to his apartment in the Vatican.

My group woke up early in Assisi yesterday to be at the hospital when the pope came out to bless the crowd. It was beautiful to be there.

Lots of my people were interviewed for radio and television, with more happening today — I’ll be on NewsMax this afternoon.

Pope Francis still has a long way to go. He’s been ordered to rest for two months. Assuming he listens to the doctors, he will probably miss the Jubilee of the Missionaries of Mercy, Jubilee of the Sick, Jubilee of Teenagers (which includes the canonization of Carlo Acutis), Jubilee of People with Disabilities, Jubilee of Workers, Jubilee of Entrepreneurs, Jubilee of Bands, Jubilee of Eastern Churches, Jubilee of Confraternities, possibly being cleared to resume normal schedules for the Jubilee of Families and Grandparents at the end of May.

But he’s never been one to listen to authority, so maybe he will be out sooner than expected.

Upcoming trips

I am wrapping up my last Rome tour until October. I purposely avoided bringing groups here during the high season, I prefer quality over quantity and feel I can give a better experience without the crowds. Rome is still pretty quiet, even more so than expected. Tourism is way down from the same time last year. But I assume it will pick up around Easter. Maybe. Who knows.

Coming up… Holy Land next week, Fatima to Lourdes in May, Rhine River Cruise in June, Holy Land and Jordan in June, Ireland in July (info next week), Lithuania and Poland in August (info next week), Fatima to Lourdes in September, Southern France in September (details soon), then four back to back Rome trips in October and November. I’ll rest in December… or add another trip. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Lenten Station Churches

More people have sent photos and videos of their classes watching my Lenten videos, meanwhile my daughters are demanding we reshoot them immediately. 😂

Here are the Station Churches for the Third Week of Lent (and for next Sunday).

Monday — San Marco — the Venetian church of Rome.

Tuesday — Santa Pudenziana — unofficially, the first cathedral of Rome and where Peter started his ministry here.

Wednesday — San Sisto — the oldest monastery in Rome.

Thursday — Santi Cosma e Damiano — beautiful mosaics.

Friday — San Lorenzo in Lucina — the reason some Romans call this church “Saint Lawrence in the Kitchen.”

Saturday — Santa Susanna — some fun facts about the first American church in Rome.

Sunday — Santa Croce in Gerusalemme — your priest probably wears rose on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This church is the reason why.

Ciao for now,

Mountain