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America’s Pastime and the American Pope

Location: Rome, Italy

We began our third day in Rome with an early breakfast, then got on the road for the Vatican. Excitement was in the air! Our commemorative baseball jerseys were packed and ready to go.

After getting through security, we made our way to the section closest to St. Peter’s, and we found our seats to the back-right of where the Holy Father addresses the audience. Then we sat in expectation in the sunny and 40-degree weather. When they announced the English-speaking pilgrim groups present, we made our presence known to the -nth degree with a powerful shout upon hearing “Mundelein Seminary.”

Then our Holy Father arrived in his iconic pope-mobile. He rode around the square, arrived at his chair, and began the audience. The reading was from the Gospel of Luke, where Joseph of Arimathea buried the body of Our Lord Jesus. Pope Leo taught on how death is nothing to fear but is our pasch into life eternal by way of Christ’s Resurrection. It was powerful to witness the teaching office of St. Peter’s successor in such close proximity.

Next was a moment we’ll remember and cherish forever. As he walked our direction, we went silent in awe and anticipation. As he stood before us, Fr. Kasule introduced our group and I had the honor of giving him our gift of the custom baseball jersey. Pope Leo happily received it and turned to the photographers for our photo. We proceeded to reveal our own jerseys, which sent an audible shock through the photographers!

After this climatic experience, we enjoyed lunch at a favorite spot of Pope Benedict XVI before his pontificate. Then we strolled about the city, seeing the Pantheon, the Trevi fountain, and the original D.I.M.E. statue (the Column of the Immaculate Conception). The column was bedecked with flowers and other decor from the solemnity just two days prior.

Our day concluded with the Holy Mass at the Basilica dei Ss. Ambrogio e Carlo. Here we had the privilege to venerate the heart of St. Charles Borromeo, the patron saint of seminarians.

-Shane Kliethermes, Diocese of Jefferson City 

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