The Papal Nuncio

Blessed Sunday it is! Pope Francis may not be in Singapore but grateful to attend the Eucharist service by His excellency Nuncio Archbishop Zalewski.

“Basically the papal nuncio is a permanent representative of the pope who is assigned with the task of safeguarding the interests of the Holy See.” 

Know more about what is a Papal Nuncio https://vatican.com/What-is-a-papal-nuncio/

Papal Audience

"Papal Audience are held on Wednesdays if the Pope is in Rome, giving pilgrims and visitors the chance to "see the Pope" and receive the Papal Blessing or Apostolic Blessing from the successor of the Apostle Peter during their visit."http://www.papalaudience.org/. The tickets are free, check out more on their official website http://www.papalaudience.org/tickets.html

I arrived 9am at Vatican, an hour early before it said to start at 10am, however the crowd is quite thick already too when I came. (Tip: come at 8AM next time). I had a ticket but when I showed to one of the guards, he said, today's audience is free and may not need a ticket, just proceed to the audience area. So I did, I happened to find still a seat but the distance from where Pope is seated is quite far as you can see from the photo below.

At 9:30 AM, the Pope will take his rounds around the barricade, which now I know, the best location to see him up close is to seat or stand where the barricade is and if you happen to be seated or standing with children or babies is a good chance that he might stop and greet the children. 

I ran away from my seat and went nearer the edges or barricade area to get a closer shot, of course, this photo was taken with the optical zoom.

As you can see in the clock, it started early....usually in Summer, it starts early 

after the mass, delegates from different parts of the world will take photo with the Pope

an hour after, the clouds were becoming gloomy...and it did rain!
I was blessed with Vatican rain from above!!

don't mess with the guards :)

this is were the entrance starts, where security is strict, all bags are checked/scan like going into the departure gates in the airport

after the rain, floor is wet but I still want a photo before I exit, haha

spot the brides in their wedding dresses for wedding pictorials

Having attended Pope's audience was really a very unforgettable and a heart warming experience. I could not believe at first that I was seeing him, hearing his voice and being blessed directly from Vatican. Although, language may be barrier as not every words is translated from Italian to English, I have felt still his LOVE and BLESSINGS.

A bucket list that I am very proud I made it here on my own....so grateful to the Lord Almighty!

So, for those who wants to have this experience too...please make sure you add the Papal audience itinerary in your activities in Rome, I'm sure this is something you could never forget in your lifetime which I am now, proud to say, I saw Pope Francis in my own eyes and has been blessed straight from the Vatican City.

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica

Walks of Italy Tour

https://www.walksofitaly.com/

The Complete Vatican Tour with Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica. on Monday 26, June 2017 with Antonietta

Vatican Tour with Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica

Price: Euro 69

I booked the above tour online and did not regret having the Vatican Tour with Walks of Italy. Well, I found this tour group randomly online and have read good reviews and had watch interesting videos too, hence I chose them among other tours that I saw. I would say quite good and will recommend it. Since, this is a walking tour, they will email you the meeting point. Be sure to come early in case you get lost on the way.

The meeting place: L'Ottagono Bar at Piazza del Risorgimento

Our tour guide was Antonietta or "Toni" as she introduced herself. She's very friendly, knowledgeable on her stuff and very motherly too. She even remembered all our names in the group and will surely take care of you during the 3-hour tour. I also like that our tour group has 16 people only, smaller group, faster to move around.

audio sets, the ear piece though keep falling with my small ears :O

advantage of the tour, we skipped this line

 

our tickets

our tickets

 

 

Do you know that the size of this sphere at the top of the dome is the same as what you will see at the garden below

Do you know that the size of this sphere is the same as what is on top of the Vatican dome

Toni, our tour guide

 

view of Vatican city

ancient coffin

crowd walking towards the museum

tapestry

amazing, 3D in tapestry, try to look at Jesus' eyes and He will look at you until the end 

the view if facing the audience where Pope helds His mass

standing infront of St. Peter's Basilica

at St. Peter's Basilica

Pieta

this walkway is only for POPE

I love how the sun shines through the windows

St. Peter's Basilica

The Pontifical Swiss Guard (also Papal Swiss Guard, or just Swiss Guard; Latin: Pontificia Cohors Helvetica or Cohors Pedestris Helvetiorum a Sacra Custodia Pontificis; Italian: Guardia Svizzera Pontificia; German: Päpstliche Schweizergarde; French: Garde suisse pontificale) is small force maintained by the Holy See, it is responsible for the safety of the Pope, including the security of the Apostolic Palace. The Swiss Guard serves as the de facto military of Vatican City. Established in 1506 under Pope Julius II, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is among the oldest military units in continuous operation.^{[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontifical_Swiss_Guard} 

Recruits to the guards must be unmarried Swiss Catholic males between 19 and 30 years of age who have completed basic training with the Swiss Armed Forces.

St. Peter's Square

end of Vatican tour

No photo taking is allowed inside the Sistine Chapel but having seen the famous Michelangelo's painting at ceiling, the "Last judgment" is another bucket list accomplished. Totally amazing experience and no words can describe how incredible he did it, extremely WOWed!