The Pope and The President of Italy (The Vatican)

What an extraordinary night!  I was at a concert in the Paul VI General Audience Hall with the Pope and the President of Italy.  As you can see from the photos of the invitation, the Pope and the President of Italy were being honored at a concert in the papal audience hall.  The Florence Symphony Orchestra was being conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta.  It was a spectacular evening.  The audience hall was filled to capacity, and the cheering began as Benedict XVI and President Napolitano entered the hall.  The director of the sabbatical program, who had worked in the Vatican, was able to get tickets for all of us.  As one of the priests in the program said, within one week, we have been with the Pope on three different occasions.  Two of those times we were up close and personal.  We have been fortunate to have had these opportunities to be with the Pope.  These events have been unexpected surprises for me in participating in this sabbatical program.  To say I am enjoying them would be an understatement.  It really does make a difference to be in the presence of the Pope, whether up close or from afar.

The day began with a walking tour lead by Ashley, an American from Illinois, who lives and works in Rome.  She led us on a "food tour" of Rome, pointing out to us the different foods and style of eating of the Romans, from bread, to olive oil, to coffee, and to gelato.  Here are a few photos from the tour.

With Ashley and some of the guys at the Campo di Fiori

Tee shirts for sale in the Campo di Fiori

Just like the good ole days!  This photo was taken on a busy street in the heart of Rome.