My protracted absence from this site has been due to a recent trip to Rome to speak at the annual UNIV conference, an international gathering of university students organised by Opus Dei. I had hoped to send a “postcard” to this site from my Roman hotel, detailing my experiences, but the lure of the Eternal City and the allure of its saints and sites kept me away from the hotel and from the computer. In consequence, I’m sending this “postcard” somewhat belatedly, several days after my return home.

I arrived in Rome on the morning of Palm Sunday, after an overnight flight, a little too late to attend the Holy Father’s Mass at St. Peter’s. Having attended Mass in the more modest surroundings of San Eugenio’s church, I met with my hosts – or more precisely my hostesses because I had been invited to speak at the female conference, as distinct from the male conference which is held at the same time but at a different venue. Over the next few days, I gave two talks, had lunch and dinner with several delightful people, including members of the Faculty of Santa Croce University, the venue for part of the conference. I met with some of the eighty-or-so American students who attended the male conference, and some of the sixty or so female students who had also travelled from the United States to attend the female conference. I also met students from far-flung corners of the world, including Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, Kenya, Japan, Australia, Trinidad, Poland, Spain, Ireland – and even England! What a true joy it was to spend time with so many young people truly on fire for the Lord and truly in love with His Church.

I also attended the Pontifical Mass in St. Peter’s for the fifth anniversary of JPII’s death, and was present at the Holy Father’s Wednesday audience. At both events the outpouring of love to our beloved “Benedito” by the faithful in attendance brought tears of pure joy to my eyes – especially during a week in which the vultures of the culture of death had screeched their profanities and defilements at the Holy Father by means of the world’s increasingly anti-Catholic media.

In between such events, interspersed with repasts at several wonderful restaurants, I found time to visit some of the numerous shrines that adorn almost every street. These included the tombs of St. Jose Maria, the founder of Opus Dei, and St. Philip Neri, founder of the Oratorians. I also visited the shrines of St. Monica and St. Charles Borromeo, and visited the English College in Rome to pay homage to the English Martyrs.

I have visited Rome on many occasions but this latest visit merely confirms my continuing love affair with the Eternal City. Rome is Home!