so I got up at 7am to prepare just in case, had breakfast, and made sure that I had the morning free.

Not one to do the tourist thing, after all I am there to work, I wondered what to do?

I do not enjoy doing things by myself, but I had a few hours to spare, and I knew that twenty minutes walk, nothing is far in Rome, was The Vatican. I had been there many times before.

Not being a religious person, and not a Roman Catholic, St. Peter's, the basilica, has no real meaning for me, but it is a beautiful place, and worth a visit. I use some of my experiences from previous visits in my courses and metaphors. Plus, if there is a God, and in the Roman Catholic faith the basilica is the number one house, why not go up there and ask him to sort me out.

So I set out on a wonderful hot sunny Saturday morning. I was happy. I was warm in my tee-shirt, striding out, mixing with the early morning Italian shoppers, and stallholders setting-up their stands on the side of the roads.

Then the heavens open. It caught me unawares, as the sun was still shinning, and yet there were big rain drops.

Walk through it Phillip, it will go.

I got to the Vatican, not too wet, but was amazed that there were so many tourists there already, so I joined the queues to get inside St. Peter's.

I first entered the tombs of the Popes. I had never been there, and found it for me strange how people were praying at the effigies or tombs of long gone Popes, but then, I have not been brought up in their beliefs.

After leaving the tombs of the Popes, I went into the Basilica itself.

As you walk into St. Peter's, you have to turn left, and there in front of you is the marvelous work of art by Michelangelo Buonarroti of Florence. It shows the Virgin Mary holding the lifeless body of Jesus Christ in her lap. It is called The Pieta (Italian for “pity”), and was created when Michelangelo was twenty four. Carved from a single block of marble, it took him two years to create, and was unveiled in 1500.

The basilica is full of statues and/or monuments, some commissioned and created for the Popes. Perhaps the most famous of these was commissioned by Alexander VII to become the archway or exit to the basilica. It was created by an 80 year old Bernini, (there is still chance for me then), in 1678.

Monument to Alexander VII, completed in 1678 by Bernini. St. Peter's Basilica, The Vatican, Rome

Looking at the picture, to the right most figure, there is the image of Truth, and in close-up it can be seen that the left foot is resting on the globe of earth, right where England, the UK, should be. It is said that the Pope hated the UK, because he had been trying to quell the growth of Anglicanism, thus the UK should not exist. The other figures show, topmost, Alexander VII at prayer, Charity, Prudence and Justice, all said to be practiced by the Pope.

Other statues and monuments are everywhere.


St. Andrew Statue by Francois Duquesnoy, 1635



The Main Tribune (or apse) holds the Cathedra Petri (St Peter's Throne)


Papal Altar where only the Pope celebrates Mass

And yes, I did stop and asked him to sort me out.

Did he? I hope so.