News & Views
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part XII
The original plans for the pilgrimage to Rome included attending a General Audience with the Pope. This had to be cancelled as Pope Leo XIV was not yet inaugurated, and so the pilgrims had the opportunity to participate in a short pilgrimage from Piazza Pia to St Peter’s Basilica. The bus drops off the pilgrims
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part XI
The Vatican Museum, one of the oldest museums of the world, is famous for its sculptures and paintings. The highlight of the museum is certainly the Sistine Chapel.During the Conclave, the papal elections, the Sistine Chapel is closed as this is the place where the cardinals then gather to decide on a new pope.When the
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part X
The highlight of a visit to Rome for any Catholic is likely to be the visit to Vatican City – the heart of Catholicism, and particularly the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano (Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican), in short, St Peter’s Basilica.The pilgrims from Bamberg arrive at very special times.
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part IX
Not far from Piazza Navona is the church Santa Maria dell’Anima (Our Lady of the Soul). The original church was built in 1350, and the current church was built in Renaissance style by Dutch merchants. The foundation for it was laid in 1500, a Jubilee Year. It became the national church of the whole Holy
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part VIII
The Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain) which was finished in 1762 is certainly the most famous fountain in Rome. Apparently, the name of the fountain derives from the Latin word trivium, meaning “intersection of three streets”.When walking towards the fountain, the crowds get bigger and bigger. The intersection of the three streets also means that
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part VII
The Trinità dei Monti church is situated above the double staircase which leads down to the famous Piazza di Spagna. The church was built as a Franciscan church in 1503 and is one of the so-called francophone churches.Standing in front of the church but below its stairs and looking down the hill, neither the staircase
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part VI
The Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Saint Mary Major) is the fourth of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome that the group from Bamberg visits.This basilica is the largest Marian church in Rome, and most recently, has become even more important as Pope Francis chose it as his burial place. It was built in
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part V
The square around the Lateran Palace is amazing: the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, the Basilica of St John Lateran, the Porta Santa, the Scala Santa and the Lateran Obelisk. Pilgrims and tourists are chatting, pointing to these buildings, taking pictures, crossing the streets and merchants trying to sell souvenirs…. If Rome didn’t
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part IV
The Basilica of St John Lateran or St Giovanni in Laterano is the third of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome that the group from Bamberg visits.It is one of the most important churches in Rome as it is also the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome which means that it is the seat
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Diary of a Pilgrim – Part III
St Philip Neri CO, an Italian Catholic priest who lived in the 16th century is said to have been a promoter of a spiritual mission for all and a call to service to others. He played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation, especially within the city of Rome.In 1553, Neri started the tradition of making