Conference of Pastoral Workers with Catholic Deaf People in Asia 7-14 October, 2005 Today I had planned to go to visit St. Peter's Basilica,, probably my most favorite building in all the world, but last night I got a call from one of the other priests organizing the conference who wanted to meet for lunch so I walked from Maryknoll (north old Rome) to the Vatican (south old Rome) to Trastevere (east old Rome). It took about 2½ hours with several stops to take pictures, including those below.

6 October Pre-Conference Wandering in Rome Land is at a premium in Rome, especially in the old section of the city, so people have window boxes of flowers high above the streets and those who have access to the roof sometimes have created a veritable jungle.   Bernini is one of the most famous sculptors in Roman church art.  He created the huge marble canopy over the main altar in St. Peter's Basilica.  At the bottom of the Spanish Steps he has this simple fountain in the shape of a boat.     I made a stop in this Church of Ss. Ambrose and Charles because Charles Borromeo is my patron saint.  These two saints are honored in one church because they are both famous saints from Milan.     This is the Castel San' Angelo, part of the Vatican. In the book Angels and Demons, this is where the assassin fell to his death at the end.   St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.  It is hard to imagine the scale of this building.  It is huge.  It is a tribute to Michelangelo's genius and artistry that it appears of normal proportions.   It is not uncommon, even outside the Vatican, to see local parish priests in their cassocks on the street.  Here this priest talks to a shopkeeper near the deaf conference venue.

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