I had the good fortune this week to tour the Pontiff’s home away from home while in the nation’s capital. The staff at the Vatican Embassy on Mass. Ave was busy making sure everything is shining — from the venetian chandeliers to the petals on the flowers.
Leading the tour was the Papal Nuncio himself, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, who resides there and will host the Pope, making sure he feels at home. We learned the Pope enjoys taking afternoon walks, so the garden may figure prominently in his down time while in Washington. Archbishop Sambi says they’ve been challenged by hungry deer with a taste for spring flowers. A focal part of the pontiff’s walks will be a statue of St. Francis, which faces the garden.
Inside we saw the tiny chapel where the pope will celebrate mass with staff on the morning of his birthday, which is Wednesday. It is filled with beautiful art, including way of the cross wall pieces made in Italy.
Mass. Ave is repaved in front of the Vice President’s residence and the barriers are up. Here, crowds will wait and watch for a glimpse of the pope. A youth choir from Annunciation Parish up the avenue will sing before he heads to the White House. When he returns, the nunciature will host a birthday lunch for the pope and invited cardinals. I was told it will be a traditional Italian meal prepared by a local restaurant, but the dessert will be all-American birthday cake. My question still unanswered is whether that cake will have candles. Eighty-one candles can be a lot to blow out.
– Jim Handly
