ROME 25/4– Day 15: Easter Wednesday

Over Rome at 06:15 the sun emerged and it will remerge (?) submerge at 20:02.

The Ave Maria Bell ought to ring for the Curia at 2-:15 (but it won’t).

It’s the feast of St. George and St. Adalbert.

It would have been Francis’ birthday.

The Roman Station is St. Lawrence outside-the-walls. I have a nice memory of being deacon when my bishop celebrated the Station Mass there and climbing the great ambo to sing the Gospel.

Welcome registrants:

ShemNehm
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Tedeum

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Just a nice view from my evening stroll.

Remember the teaming hordes of pilgrims there were supposed to be during the Jubilee?

This morning walking up to the Campo de’ Fiori after Mass and a chat and a coffee…

Pretty much everyone here is saying that the Jubilee has been a flop.  Not many came for Easter…. in a Jubilee.

I bought some flowers today from Pippo.  We talked about Francis.  (He wasn’t particularly a fan… as most Romans I’ve spoken who had any thought about him at all.)

Heading home with some slices from Ruggieri (finocchiona) and taleggio (a favorite) and bread from the Forno at the Campo and flowers from Pippo and some passata di pomodoro (tomato … purée, I think is best).

Meanwhile…

OBAMA AND MERKEL SPIED ON POPE BENEDICT XVI AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORDER TO INSTIGATE A ‘CATHOLIC SPRING’?

In 2013, the National Security Agency (NSA) were alleged to have spied on the Vatican, with the German Foreign Security Agency (BND) also having been accused of the… pic.twitter.com/ihCJ83dxfm

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) April 22, 2025

Yeah… we knew that.

Cardinal Robert Sarah in his own words. He’s fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, and Latin, and his English is excellent.
Watch > https://t.co/2nk6Ohg9KU pic.twitter.com/ACmgLCq5ZH

— Patrick Madrid ?? (@patrickmadrid) April 23, 2025

Cardinal Sarah is truly amazing. I think that even the progressivists know that he is a man of deep prayer and faith.

And this… yeah… we knew that too.

Grand Lodge of Italy: “In this time of mourning, our Communion wishes to pay homage to the vision of Pope Francis, whose work bears a profound resonance with the principles of Freemasonry.”https://t.co/8dltfCHbF2

— Alistair McFadden ? (@JustACatholic1) April 22, 2025

Between us, I’ve slowly been picking up Hungarian… which looks a bit like this. It’s hard.

Hungary has been a beacon of light during the darkness that Europe is currently experiencing.

Perhaps Hungary’s Cardinal Péter Erd? can be the same for the Church as the next pope? pic.twitter.com/hrEE8Tht4g

— Eric Sammons (@EricRSammons) April 22, 2025

Nice people! Great service!

In chessy news…

Magnus Carlsen won the 2025 Grenke Chess Freestyle Open (Fischer Random) with a perfect 9/9 score. A force of nature. It was quite the event, with some 3000 participants. Big! Freestyle is a thing. Look at this venue…

My guy Wesley So finished 6.5, with a comeback after losing in round three his only loss of the tournament.

I’m tellin’ya friends… get with it! Chess.

Interested in learning?  Try THIS.

Meanwhile, why is this knight sac amazing?   Quick!  60 seconds…. GO!

[NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.]