Pictures: Rome & the Popes
These photos give a vista of what it is like to live in Rome and be close to the Holy Father, just a ten minute walk from Vatican City.
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF):
Cardinal Levada, the Prefect for the CDF, was gratious enough to extend an invitation for a few of us seminarians to tour the Congregation's offices, aka the Holy Office at the Vatican. Therein we saw many of the offices, had a time for questions with the Cardinal (who is from the USA), and had a spot of tea before being on our way. It was a neat place to see, a rather normal church office setting, and their openness in response to our questions just further proved, the Vatican indeed does know what is going on in the Church throughout the world.
Pope John Paul II:
Though I was only in Rome for the last two years of his pontificate, they were memorable times. In those days, he beatified and canonized several saints (including Mother Theresa of Calcutta and Padre Pio), created cardinals, and was present at the Christmas and Easter celebrations. I even had the opportunity to meet him twice, a rare privilege. Although I do not have pictures from every event or encounter, these photos should give you an idea of what being there is like.
His Vigil, Death, and Laying in State:
Our beloved papa passed away in early April 2005, and the whole world tuned in to share in those days of sorrow and mourning. Over a million people flooded into the city during those short weeks of transition to pray in vigil, to stand in lines several blocks long for a glimpse of his body, and to celebrate his christian burial. Due to the massive amounts of people, I was not able to attend the full gamut of events, but I did get my glimpse and prayed with the united body of Christ. May our dear John Paul the Great rest in peace.
Opening Mass of the Conclave:
After the traditional nine days of public mourning following the funeral of the pontiff, the cardinals celebrate Mass together and then enter the conclave to vote for the next pope. The dean of the college of cardinals, Josef Card. Ratzinger celebrated that Mass, and I was privileged to sing in the choir for it, merely a few yards from the altar.
Pope Benedict: 
As his name was announced, "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Papam: Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Josephum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Ratzinger" and we watched him appear from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, we ourselves were changed. No longer would our generation of seminarians be considered "the men of John Paul II", rather we would become "Benedict's men".
Roman Churches:
There are said to be almost 400 unique Catholic churches in the city of Rome, each bearing a piece of history and representing the artistry & architecture of its day; from the earliest christian house churches to the great mammoth basilicas over the bones of Saints, like the apostles Peter and Paul.
Roman Sites: 
Rome is a city that has been destroyed and rebuilt seven times over, each time becoming more and more of a metropolis, expanding from a small swamp to a burgeoning epicenter for the western world. Flountains, parks, museums, temples, churches, and ancient ruins await the adventurous pilgrim who peeks and snoops through the winding alleyways to discover what 3000 years has to offer.