Rome has been beautiful
To be honest, I wasn’t too sure what to expect in Italy. I knew a bit about Rome, but I was underwhelmed by the little facts I remembered from 9th grade World History. Needless to say, such mediocre expectations were quickly met with some of the most unbelievable experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Italy has afforded me the chance to look into the past; ancient architecture, ongoing traditions and rich history paint the beauty of this land. It all feels so much bigger than me. I plan to keep discovering and learning more about Italy long after I leave.
The Papal Audience
Not even a week after arriving, we had the chance to attend the Papal Audience. I wasn’t too sure what it entailed, but I knew the Pope would be there. Other than being the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church, I’d heard so much about his kindness and humility. Most vividly, I remembered my parents going wild after Pope Francis arrived to America in a Fiat. After being informed that his predecessors always opted for fancier transportation, it made sense why his humble vehicle caused an uproar. I was absolutely excited to see him in real life, even if it’d be at a great distance. Luckily, a deacon who helped hold mass on campus the Sunday before had given us a great tip of not running to the front, but staying toward the sides of the barricade. We arrived bright and early. Though it was raining, we were still determined to stay on the bright side. We saw multiple couples in tuxes and grand wedding dresses shuffle in, awaiting to be married by the Pope. By some luck, my friend and I had bumped into a few friendly strangers that were also filipino, as I am a first-generation filipina, who made us feel welcomed. It was their third time attending the Papal Audience. They offered us seats and shared stories of their visit in Rome so far. They reminded me of my family and made me feel a little less homesick. It finally began and, to our surprise, the announcer gave St. John’s University a shout out!
As it progressed the Pope came out and we sat through a few readings in different languages. As Pope Francis began to speak, a brief moment of sheer awe broke out over the audience; the rain lessened and the clouds parted, shining light over the Vatican. The Pope then made his away around the crowds, imparting his blessings wherever he could. Before we knew it, the Pope was a foot or two in front of us! I couldn’t believe it. He came around twice. When he returned, I felt someone close behind me yelling, “Papa! Per fervor!” Suddenly, I felt little shoes glide over my head. A body guard had carried this woman’s child to the Pope so he could kiss him on the cheek! He stopped and waved over at us. I couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the day.
View atop Assisi
The next excursion we took was to Assisi, home of the man who the current Pope named himself after: St. Francis of Assisi. We were accompanied by Deacon Will, who graciously guided us through transportation and toured us through the town. Upon arriving, it was exactly what I envisioned Italy to be like. Its charming streets and small-town aura ushered us in happily. We first walked through St. Clare’s Basilica. She was one of the first followers of St. Francis, known for leaving her wealthy family to answer the lord’s calling. Her incorrupt body lays within the basilica. Then, we walked across Assisi to St. Francis Basilica, which was built with intentions of facing St. Clare’s. The inside was magnificent, regarding its patron saint with the respect he deserves. We then headed to a small Italian restaurant and were treated to an amazing three course meal. After we were finished, a friend and I dashed to a stationary shop we had spotted on our walk. After purchasing a few wax seals and writing utensils, we headed back to the train station.
St. Francis Basilica in Assisi
One weekend, a few friends and I decided to visit Florence and Verona. We began our trip to Florence with some coffee, routing our way to the Uffizi Gallery. In class, we had learned about Caravaggio, a passionate painter who created many gorgeous pieces of art in the Baroque period. It was truly surreal to see his “Bacchus” painting with my very own eyes. My friends and I got so excited, we annoyingly snapped a selfie with it and kept moving on. We then visited the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and climbed 463 steps. The view atop Florence was absolutely breathtaking.
We continued on with our journey the next day to fair Verona, where Shakespeare based his romantic tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet.” Again, we arrived early to beat the crowds and headed straight for La Casa di Giulietta. Though the lovers only exist in their story, the city of Verona bought the house from the Capello family, which sounded so familiar to Juliet’s that the site was declared the Capulet house.
The Balcony said to have inspired Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Rome has been beautiful. This entire experience has been beautiful. I have never felt so grateful in my twenty years of life. I’ve seen things, done things, I never would have thought possible. I knew I would travel at some point of my life, but to see the world at such a young age is a blessing I truly feel undeserving of. Thank you for coming along and letting me tell you my story.
Fall 2019 social media ambassador, Jillian K. Dorego













