Back in the Saddle Again

Well after a week of being on bed rest after a really terrific infection I ventured out of my hermitage today to attend the Papal Mass for the Closing of the Synod on the New Evangelization.  The Mass was held, for a change, inside the Basilica.  It was a splendid Mass though music at St. Peter's could use a little work, it is a bit morbid and the locals refer to the choir as the 'Sistine Shreakers' instead of the Sistine Choir.  The Holy Father looked very tired after three weeks of active participation in the Synod. For a man of 85 he does quite well considering the great distances one travels in the Basilica.  We sat right behind the main Altar and some of our group were in the first row.  For the Eucharistic Prayer we stood at the foot of the Altar within a short distance of the Holy Father.  The funny moment today was listening to the priests talk about the Pope's red shoes! Yes, ladies that is right, the priests were all a buzz about his shoes.  I found this quite surprising.  All the Pope's wear red shoes, there was a at one time a custom where they would switch to green shoes during Easter but that is no longer observed.  Why Red shoes????  Well the answer is actually quite simple.  The Pope's originally wore all scarlet, the color the Cardinal's now wear.  At some point in history they extended their own color to their chosen college of advisors allowing them to wear the Papal Scarlet.  Eventually a Dominican Friar was elected Pope and chose to wear his white habit...and the as they say...the rest is history.  Ok, I gave you the readers digest version.  The only vestiges of the time when the Pope's wore scarlet are found in their shoes and in their Mozzetta.  The Mozzetta is the red shoulder cape you see the Pope wear on ceremonial occasions.  These two elements of their vesture are the remnants of when they wore all scarlet.  The shoes by-the-way are Italian designers shoes, I believe they are made as a gift by the House of Prada.

Here was my view of the Altar, looking toward the front door.

Main Altar

 This photo is from the beginning of the Mass when the Pope Incensed the Altar.

Beginning of Mass

 This photo was taken from about the middle of the Basilica after Communion, I had just finished distributing communion and was leaving the Blessed Sacrament Chapel on my way out.

End of Mass

This is photo of a Swiss guard, not exactly happy gilmore!  The uniforms were designed by Michelangelo and are still in use today for formal occasions and at the gates.  Impressive and they are well trained not just there for decoration either.

Swiss Guard

 Here is blurry photo from the end of Mass when the Pope flew by my location in what they call the "Pope Mover", a platform on wheels invented during the waning days of the Pontificate of Blessed John Paul II.  The Basilica is huge and not easy for an 85 year old to walk around so they use this motorized contraption where he stands and buzzes around after Mass to bless people.

Portable Pope Mover

 If you think the Pope gets a lot of attention you should have been on porch after the Mass when this Archbishop stepped out, it was a like a rock star had arrived at St. Peter's.  His name is Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, 55 year old Archbishop of Manila in the Philippines.  On Wednesday the Pope named him a Cardinal.  He was one of the bishops invited to the Synod and he gave a rousing speech that was well reported around the world in which he called for a more "humble" Church.  In turn the world press called him "pro-pabile" meaning a possible choice as the next Pope to succeed Benedict XVI!  I was standing nearby when he stepped out and was instantly mobbed.  This gaggle of nuns all threw their camera's at me asking me to take their picture with him.  Well I figured I would take one for my blog too!

Cardinal Designate Tagle