Arrivederci Roma

We had a quiet morning checking emails and doing the blog as well as doing our final pack for the homeward journey. Derek Kearney invited us for lunch at the SMA's (Society of Missionaries of Africa) and this time we got there! No strike today and so with our luggage we managed to get a taxi as Derek said he would take us to the airport.

After lunch he drove us down to St Peter's and on the way we stopped at different vantage points along the Gianiculum Hill to get views of the city and beyond including Castle Gandolfo where the Pope is at present.

Derek and Leona

 

The Forum and St John Lateran in the far distance

The roof of the Pantheon

The Vatican State, extends from the tower on the left (see below) and down to St Peters and includes the piazza in front of the basilica.

We went into St Peter's again for our last time. I must say with all the barricades around it seems even more like a tourist place just to go and view and no place to sit down and stop and reflect.

Blessed Pope John XXIII

St Philip Neri

After that we walked to the Chiesa Nuova to remember Philip our ex-rector and pray for him at the tomb of his patron saint, St Philip Neri. We were delighted to hear that he had a good report recently. It is a beautiful church and was not buzzing with too many people and it was also cool!

Tomb of St Philip Neri

Then we're turned to the SMA's place and before going in walked along the Nocetta to see where the John of God Generalate was. After a bite to eat it was off to the airport and farewelling Derek and Rome.