Sunday doings

 When in Rome on a Sunday, I always attend the 9am mass in the Pauline Chapel of Santa Maria Maggiore.  This is one of my favorite churches in Rome.  It's actually a basilica, though.  It is one of 80 Marian churches in Rome.  The original church was built on this site (the Esquiline hill) in 432 by the order of Pope Sixtus III.  Later, during the Papacy of Pope Liberius, Mary appeared to him in a dream and demanded it be improved to Maggiore status, which it truly IS!

Full of exquisite early mosaics, gilt coffered ceilings, marble wonders, and now this:

  

The tomb of Pope Francis.  Understated, noble, soft, unassuming.  Franciscan restraint, but in marble.

You know, when Pope Francis announced his desire to be buried here, my first thought was, "oh boy, that is going to be a game changer for this church."  A church that was always a delight to go to because not many people were there.  NOW, LINES wrapped around the block to pass through security.

He was loved.  What else is there?

The priest at mass was so great.  A wonderful homily (in Italian) about how Pope Leo is spreading the message of peace, love, joy.  And he insisted we do the same.  He also mentioned that Pope Francis spent much time in this basilica, just walking and praying.  

So, Sunday in Italy actually is about walking.  After lunch, everyone goes for a passeggiata. A long and lazy stroll around.  Trying to escape the crowds, I decided to walk up to the Borghese gardens.  Well, the crowds were there, alas.  But so were the parrots.  Hundreds of them.  They must be mating or nesting?  They were glorious.