Our recent trip to Europe was not only a vacation and celebration of over 40 years of marriage, but Ron and I wanted to experience a deepening of our faith. To do that, we incorporated elements of pilgrimage.

One important aspect of pilgrimage was a nearly full-day trip to Vatican City, headquarters for the Roman Catholic Church. With around 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, Catholicism is recognized as the world’s largest religion.

I will devote the next three blog posts to our time at the Vatican, which was an amazing experience!

*Entering Vatican City – The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica was impressive against the cloudy gray sky.*

Anyone who knows me well understands I love information! So, today, I’d like to inform you of a few facts about the Vatican:

In 1929, Vatican City’s independent sovereignty was recognized by the Italian government’s Fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini. The pope, elected by the Roman Catholic Church, was given absolute authority to rule the Vatican.
Located within the city of Rome, the Vatican is the smallest country in the world at .44 square kilometers and with a population of around 800 people.
More tourists visit the Vatican than anywhere else in the world—over 5 million each year.
It has its own army—the Swiss Guard. They can be seen dressed in Renaissance-style uniforms of blue, red, orange, and yellow, equipped with traditional weapons as well as with modern firearms. Visitors are not allowed to photograph the soldiers.
Vatican City has its own telephone, healthcare, and banking systems; post office; gardens; radio and television stations; and distinctive license plates.

*Gazing down upon the tiny sovereign nation of the Vatican nestled within the city of Rome.*

Each work of art seemed to have spiritual significance. For instance, peacocks have been called guardians of the Gates of Paradise. Pinecones have been associated with spiritual enlightenment because they resemble the brain's pineal gland, the portion of the brain linked to awareness, perception, and spiritual connection. Pinecones also represent eternal life because they originate from evergreen trees.

There are many different views of Christianity, but there is no doubt the Roman Catholic faith tradition has been and continues to be deeply important. During the hours we spent visiting the Vatican, I thought often about the “small c”--universal catholic Church and how the Church despite its flaws and disagreements remains God’s idea.

Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed for his disciples, including Peter, to whom he was entrusting his work. He then prayed for future believers who would continue to carry his message and build the Church. I love Jesus’ prayer, taken from The Message.

I’m praying not only for them [the disciples]
But also for those who will believe in me
because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me. (John 17:20-23)

I left Vatican City more committed than ever to be one tiny voice which in some small way carries on a message of Jesus-bridge-building, encouraging those who are considering or are already traveling “the way” of Jesus. My prayer is that we will become one heart and mind despite our unique differences, that we grow in love for one another because we understand we are loved in the same way Jesus understood God loved him.

Information and Insights About Vatican City

Taking a Glimpse of the Vatican Museum

Considering the Chains God Still Breaks Reflections from Rome