Ali's last visit to Rome

15 Feb 2009:  Ali with my mum and me in St Peter's Square

I recently mentioned Ali's first visit to Rome in 1993.  We subsequently went together in June 2005, and then for a few days in February of 2007 and 2008, to attend the annual symposium of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Our final visit together to Rome was in February 2009.  Though the reason for our visit was mainly to attend the Pontifical Academy for Life symposium, as in previous years, we arrived a few days earlier, taking my mum, Bridie, with us.  My mum, who shared the same birthday as Ali  (8th January) had just turned 80 and this was a special trip  - it was her first and only visit to Rome.

After arriving on the evening of Saturday 14 Feb, we made our way to St Peter's Basilica on the Sunday morning for Mass, and then to the Piazza for the Angelus with Pope Benedict.

14 Feb 2009:  The Angelus with Pope Benedict XVI

14 Feb 2009:  A large gathering for the Angelus

Afternoon sight-seeing included Circus Maximus and generally driving around Rome, before heading on to the Basilica of St Paul Outside-the-Walls.  A special Jubilee Year of St Paul was being held in 2009 to celebrate the 2000th anniversary of the Apostle's birth, so there was an additional reason for visiting.

Circus Maximus

St Paul's Outside-the-Walls

Ali and mum at St Paul's Outside-the-Walls