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Later in July I spent a few days in Rome, staying at San Patrizio where I was a student many years ago, and always a place of welcome and friendliness. The Prior, Mike, was his usual ebullient self, Iggs was about and we had pizza together, and Father Charles from Kano arrived on his first trip outside Nigeria, and we spent a couple of days trying to get some of his bits and pieces sorted out - mobile phone, electrical leads etc.
The Pope was away on his holidays up in the Alto Adige / Bolzano / Bozen (that bit of Italy where they speak German and which has passed backwards and forwards between Italy and Austria over the centuries). So, no chance to see him, although I did get to see Pope JP II's grave in the crypt of San Pietro; he's taken over the slot vacated by John XXIII who has been translated up in to the Basilica following his beatification. It probably won't be long before JP II makes the same journey. Rome, as ever, was lovely - good food, good wine, interesting sights on the streets, full of life, and the weather was marvellous.
(use the slider to see pictures; for a larger view click on the thumbnail )