There is not much I can add to the wonderful night that
just took place at St. Peter's.
It was
truly an extraordinary experience that was so presented so well by the
CatholicTV Network.The entire staff did
an excellent job in bringing these events into your home.It was truly a team effort.
Please pray for Pope Francis I. May
God guide him and protect him as he leads this Church we all love.
Rome is crying tears from heaven as the rain
comes down hard.Tim and I went to St.
Peter's Square early in the morning and I am glad we did.
As we entered the square I saw a lone figure
in the distance.
As I approached, I saw a man dressed in a burlap sack
kneeling on the hard stone ground praying.
I suddenly noticed that he had no shoes on and that his
feet were battered and worn.It was
clear that he had walked a lot of miles without shoes.
I watched him for quite a while.People would walk by him or take pictures of
him but he did not look at them.
My
first thought was that he was a beggar because there are a lot of those in
Rome.But he was not asking for
money.I saw a nun give him some coins
and I wondered if I should do the same.A number of thoughts crossed my mind:should I give him some money? who was he? was this a scam?
I decided to give him coins but
hesitated.I was nervous to approach
this man who was dirty and very different from me.Then I thought of the readings from the Mass
with the Cardinals yesterday and specifically "love one another".
I made my move.I approached him, held out the coins and he
opened his hand.The coins clang as they
fell into his hand.I thought that was
the end of my meeting with him and began to turn and walk away. But he thanked me and asked where I was from. He told me he was from Assisi.He pulled a pamphlet out of his bag and told
me to love the poor.He again thanked me
and said May God bless you.I walked
away.
I must have broken the ice because after I left a group
gathered around him and I could hear them asking questions.He answered in a very gentle way.
If you open up your heart and mind, if you don't let the fear of the unknown
limit you, the world expands.Love your
neighbor and God will love you.
This is just a quick post to thank all of you who have left comments or
have contacted me. I am enjoying the
conversations.
It can feel quite
isolating when you are away from home even in the beautiful city of Rome. I would like to tell all of you who have
asked for prayers while I am in Rome that I will certainly do that when I am in
St. Peter's at Blessed Pope John Paul II's tomb. In a special way I will remember a young man
Mike who is engaged and PJ and of course Kevin's father-in-law. I will also remember all those who have
written in and asked that their named or someone they know be put in the prayer
box.
I know that Father Reed remembers
those people everyday and I will do the same while I am in Rome. If you would like a person remembered while I
am here please leave their name in the comments. I ask that you also remember my family, the
CatholicTV Staff and me in your prayers.
We had a surprise guest today here in
Rome:the sun!It has been very cloudy and raining a great
deal the past week so this was a welcome change.I hope it lasts.
Tim and I went to St. Peter's Square this
morning to shoot some interviews and some promos.On the way we bumped into Terry Donilon, the
Secretary for Communications for the Archdiocese of Boston.We have only seen Terry a couple of times
because of his busy schedule and our schedule put us in different locations in
the city.
Back to the square.They are setting up for the election of a pope.The Vatican has a lift truck that they used
to install the curtains in the middles balcony where the new Holy Father will
walk out from.
As I was watching the installation of the curtain I made
my way over to the the beautiful statue of St. Peter holding the keys to the
Church and was struck by the view of the balcony behind the statue.It is striking to see the picture of St.
Peter and behind him look at the balcony where the successor of Christ will
walk out from:
The staff at the Vatican is huge in number.They are buzzing around the square
preparing.They are only outnumbered by
the security. Here is a picture of the
staff removing some of the barricades so they can put in chairs:
The number of press here is growing by the minute.Some try to sneak into the square but they
are quickly confronted and ushered out.The press mostly line the gate that surrounds the square.They actually are in the street and cars need
to dodge them.As I wrote in a previous
post these are the best drivers in the world.No horns, just quick turns and cuts in traffic.
It is an amazing day in Rome as the world prepares for
the Conclave.Stay with the CatholicTV
Network and in particular Father Reed, Msgr. Maroney, Kevin Nelson, and me for
exclusive coverage.You can watch on
CatholicTV.com, your iPhone/iPad or Android, Roku or GoogleTV.
This afternoon I would like to discuss the media presence in Rome.
One word to describe it is massive. I have been to Rome many times to cover events because we are a television network and our role is to bring programming into homes that inspire people to live out their faith more fully. I was fortunate to be in Rome from the death of Blessed Pope John Paul the II through the election of Pope Benedict the XVI. I do not think that anything will top those few weeks in regards to media, but this is close.
There are over 5000 accredited media in Rome to cover this event. Most are regarding this as news and will move on to their next target soon after the installation. CatholicTV regards this as a historical moment that will affect the lives of all those who watch CatholicTV. We bring a perspective that other stations would ignore. We invite our viewers to pray with us and await with great anticipation and hope the election of the next Holy Father.
While most stations have huge crews and gigantic budgets, CatholicTV has just Tim and I to cover this life changing moment. There is a line of satellite trucks costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to send their stories around the world. We use Skype and the Internet to send ours for free.
Tim Stonesifer
Yet with only the 2 of us, and our cheap way of doing things, our message is stronger than all the others. We are transmitting more than a sound byte, more than a story. We are demonstrating that the Catholic Church is alive and vibrant. The Church is relevant and the fabric of so many people around the world.
It is with this charge that Tim and I continue to search out the stories that will affect people's lives in a positive way. Our role is simple; bring people closer to Christ through the use of television and media. I pray we are doing that and I thank all of you for your kind comments and affirmation and support.
Let us join together and witness history together.
A date has been set for the Conclave. It will start this Tuesday afternoon. In the morning the Cardinals will celebrate a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica.
It has been with much prayer and anticipation that the faithful have awaited this decision. The Cardinals from around the globe have been meeting with each other to discuss issues and concerns that need to be examined in the Church. It seems as though there has been much discernment and reflection before they decided on a date. A time and date was not the issue, but coming to a consensus of what needed to be addressed and taking the time to understand first what the questions that should be asked must be, and then the answers to those questions had to be developed and scrutinized.
The Vatican is a tiny country surrounded by Italy. But this small country has the attention of the world.
That focus will be intensified starting on Tuesday and grow with each moment that a pope is not named. There is an excitement and a sense of wonder as we await the decision of the Cardinals on who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church.
Let us continue to pray that the Holy Spirit guides these men in their deliberations.
Hello to all my blog friends!Well it has been a busy day in Rome.
Father Chris O'Connor from the Archdiocese of Boston is
leading a pilgrimage through Poland and Rome.
I had the chance to briefly catch up with them in St. Peter's square and
they are a wonderful group.
Aldona, the
Director of the Master of Arts and Ministry program is on the pilgrimage as
well as students from MAM and the TINE program.
It is clear that they are having a blast.
Father Chris never slows down and they have a
full schedule. I spoke to several of the
Pilgrims and one of the first questions they asked was, "where is
Kevin?" I found this funny because Kevin asks the same question. Just kidding Kevin! (OK, he really does ask that question but I
don't want to hurt his feelings.)
After meeting with the pilgrims from Boston,
Tim and I were off to the NAC.We found out that the Cardinals had decided
to halt all press conferences so the 2:30 taping was out.That however did not slow us down.
Thanks to Msgr. Burrill we were able to
interview 4 seminarians and a priest who were from different dioceses across the
country.What a group of outstanding
young men.I couldn't help but think
that these are the future leaders of the Church.If that is the case we are in good
hands!Watch for a special with these
men soon on the CatholicTV Network.
From
the NAC, Tim and I went to St.Peter's for the prayer service.I told a person from ABC News that Father
Reed was supplying commentary for CatholicTV.I met Terry Donilon and Greg Tracy, and also Angela Flood from the
Archdiocese of Washington there by happenstance.
It was a beautiful service and I was struck
when I saw 2 nuns kneeling on the stone floor.There was a great crowd all participating in the service.Another wonderful day in the very rainy city
of Rome.That is right-- it's pouring, and
without an umbrella I am now a soaking mess.Time to dry off.
Last time I wrote you may remember that I was rushing to
get to St. Peter's to do a live Skype interview with Father Reed and
Kevin. It had been a very hectic day and
time was not a luxury that I had.
I
would like to set the scene at St. Peter's.
It is swarming with pilgrims and tourists. The surprising fact is that most of the
people visiting are relatively young. It's refreshing to witness so many people filled with their Catholic faith.
Surrounding the square are the press. Not just a few press people, but hundreds. There have been over 5,000 press credentials
given out for this event. The press
hover on the outskirts of the square, never crossing the invisible line to get
inside. They bounce around from one end
to the other.
If one does cross into the
square they quickly are greeted by the ever present security. The greeting is not pleasant but always
brief. It consists of a request for
credentials, and if the press person does not have them, they are politely but firmly
asked to leave.
It's amazing how many
security guards there are on the square.
Some drive in small cars, some are in uniform and on foot, and some are
undercover.
It was in this environment
that I did my live feed inside the square.
I did it with my iPhone. I held
the phone out, arms length away, with St. Peter's behind me.
As I did this security was swarming my area
watching me closely. My arms grew tired
from holding the camera and I was fearful that I would be asked to leave during
the interview. If you watch the
"This the Day" interview, you will see that I am
looking around constantly.
During the
interview people could hear Fr. Reed and Kevin on my phone and could see me
talking so some started to gather. It
was stressful, but fun! That's all for
now. More to come later so stay tuned
and I hope you keep reading.
As an aside, as I've been writing this, an elderly Italian man keeps
singing as he cleans the area I am in during these early am hours. He is very happy this early in the morning
and I have to admit that it put a smile on my face.
Introducing Church on the Ground, a new CatholicTV series exclusive for YouTube!
We're kicking off the series in Rome and bringing you updates and insights from Catholics on the ground in Rome for the 2013 Conclave.
Check out our first segment, with Sebastian Gomes of Salt + Light TV. He thinks that this Conclave is an important opportunity for our Church. Find out why:
We'll be uploading new segments every day until Conclave ends, so keep your eye on youtube.com/catholictv for the latest videos.
To stay updated on all of our 2013 Conclave coverage, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
We landed at 7:10 Rome time and
caught a cab to the hotel. Tim and I put our luggage in our rooms and we
were off and running.
As we moved through the narrow streets of Rome you
could sense the excitement among the many people who inhabit this ancient city.
There is a buzz in the air and you can see people talking and pointing to the
press and to St. Peter's Dome. They all know that history is at hand and
they feel part of the change.
Our first stop was to get our press credentials.
Msgr. Tighe, a friend of CatholicTV, met us and made the process much
easier. The press office itself reminded me of a bee hive. People
moving in all directions in and out of the front doors. It was constant
motion and we had to watch our step so we did't get caught in the traffic
flow--not of cars, but of humans.
We left the press office and met with
Father Rosica and Sebastian. Father Rosica is in charge of Salt and Light Television in Canada and is in Rome to assist Father Lombardi with the press.
Both he and Sebastian were kind enough to tape interviews with us.
St.
Peter's is overrun by press. It made me think of the role of the Catholic
Church in the world. This is not a Church in decline but a Church that is
alive, vibrant and relevant. Some try to diminish the Church because they
disagree with the teachings. They want the Church to ebb and flow with societal
change. But the Church stands with the teachings of Christ. Its
foundation is solid. Its beliefs are not negotiable based on polls or the
popular thinking at the time. It is a rock.
We are now off to press
conferences and a live interview for This is the Day. More to come from
Rome my friends. Thank you for reading my musings.
CatholicTV is now airing a 30-part series of short videos called “Viaggio a Roma” (trip to Rome) which takes viewers on a tour of the eternal city.
Each video, which lasts about 3-5 minutes, features Fr. Robert Reed discussing the history and significance of such sites as St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Gardens, Church of St. Peter in Chains, the Roman Coliseum, and more.
CatholicTV will add several new videos each week to its website at www.CatholicTV.com/Viaggio-a-Roma and will also air these 3-5 minutes clips throughout the week.
Below is a list of the various sites featured on Viaggio a Roma:
Via Della Concilizione, St. Peter’s Square, Castel San Angelo, Nave of St. Peter’s, St. Peter’s Basilica, tomb of Pope John Paul II, Vatican Gardens, Scavi Office, Swiss Guard Barracks, Piazza della Minerva, Piazza del Pantheone, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, Coliseum, Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, Campidoglio, The Capuchini Bone Chapel, Column of Marcus Aurelius, North American College, Boca della Verita, Circus Maximus, Church of St. Peter in Chains, Tiber River, Trastevere, Church of Santa Maria (in Trastevere).
CatholicTV will produce several programs in Rome, Italy during the week of September 20th-25th. CatholicTV invites its viewers and anyone interested to watch special videos and follow “tweets” online at CatholicTV’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Father Robert Reed, President and Jay Fadden Executive Vice President and General Manager of the CatholicTV Network will lead the staff in producing shows including a series called “Viaggio a Roma” which explores some of the beautiful and holy places in Rome.
CatholicTV’s Facebook page will post daily videos of some of the various places filmed. The Viaggio a Roma series will include footage and commentary of: St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Gardens, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, and many more sights and experiences of Rome.
CatholicTV plans to produce several new recitations of the rosary while in Rome. These devotions will be recorded at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the Catacombs of Priscilla, and more.
CatholicTV will also record a special episode of the show “House + Home”, and its signature talk show “This is the Day” while in Rome.
CatholicTV asks that its supporters pray for CatholicTV and its employees especially during this trip to Rome.
The number of press here is growing by the minute. Some try to sneak into the square but they
are quickly confronted and ushered out.
The press mostly line the gate that surrounds the square. They actually are in the street and cars need
to dodge them. As I wrote in a previous
post these are the best drivers in the world.
No horns, just quick turns and cuts in traffic.
Hello my fellow blogolites! 
Aldona, the
Director of the Master of Arts and Ministry program is on the pilgrimage as
well as students from MAM and the TINE program.
It is clear that they are having a blast.
Surrounding the square are the press. Not just a few press people, but hundreds. There have been over 5,000 press credentials
given out for this event. The press
hover on the outskirts of the square, never crossing the invisible line to get
inside. They bounce around from one end
to the other. 
It
was a long plane ride to Rome today.
