FOLLOWING POPE FRANCIS...

So this morning, Pope Francis made his first visit outside of the Vatican to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to pray to the Mother of God, the protector of the Roman people. It's an unprecedented move setting in motion what looks to be a fascinating and different papacy.

Here's a pic of the Holy Father at that chapel in the Basilica where he had left a bouquet of flowers:




As this increasingly surprising, dramatic and unpredictable weeklong pilgrimage continues, soon after the Holy Fathers visit, our group would be the first ones to celebrate Mass at that very altar the Pope had just visited. It was the first time I can remember flowers on an altar distracting me the entire time...

As Lino said to me "will you ever be able to top a week in Rome like this?" Hard to imagine, but God is always full of surprises... Over a year ago I had never been out of the country before...

Gotta get to bed to be up at 6 am for our final Mass at St Peters Basilica at the tomb of Blessed Pope John Paul II