When my eldest daughter and I went to Rome in November 2001 for the Consecration of the Episcopalian Bishop of Europe (I, as a member of the Anglican Listserv, was invited) at St Paul Inside the Walls, Rome. We also visited three of the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome whilst we were there. My daughter came with me because she had been to Europe before and was, in my eyes, extremely experienced in traveling around Europe and I had never left the Western Hemisphere nor had I ever flown before. It was the day after the plane crashed in Yonkers actually and one of the people I worked with came in and said "are you still going?". I said absolutely this was my pilgrimage to Rome we were staying for eight days and then going on to London, England which meant, at that time, you could not book like that on Air Canada so we were flying on an American airline. As we flew from Philadelphia to Rome, our plane was only about half full, but the entire trip embodied in my mind the strength of America just two months after 9/11 and a couple of days after the crash in Yonkers. They may have been wounded but they just keep trying and will always find the footing that fulfills their need to feel comfortable in this world.
Yesterday when the announcement came that the Pope would be buried in St Mary Major Basilica I did think what a beautiful place for him to choose plus it is in a part of Rome that people pass through probably in the thousands and thousands every day. The pilgrimages to visit the tomb of Pope Francis will be many and often I am sure. His Sainthood, perhaps not far off, as he has made life so much better in a spiritual way for so many people not just Roman Catholics. He brought the enthusiasm and the attitude of the Western Hemisphere into the Eastern Hemisphere - that never happened before and it was good, excellent actually.
Blessings on the Pope as he lies in state waiting for his funeral; I am sure his spirit is winging its way to God in the speediest way possible. In twelve years he wrought so much good in this world. Prayers for the repose of his soul. God bless and keep the Holy Father Francis close to Him.
And us, here in Canada, we are still on the way to the election on the 28th of April with advance voting polls completed now, mail-in votes still coming in all over Canada and probably from around the globe. This is the most significant election in my lifetime for sure. Who will win still a question mark although the Liberals are leading. The candidates for both the Conservative and Liberal party are excellent - the one brings experience and the other brings youth - together they will help us to regain our lost industries and prepare Canada for the future. Question Period will be an exciting time once again as Canada moves itself ahead into the future. We have been a member of the G7 for a long time but now we will fulfill our destiny of being a major partner in the world alongside our wonderful friend and neighbour the United States of America. We will always be friends as that too is our destiny. The First Nations of this Northern part of the Western Hemisphere have a foot in both of our countries as it was their country/their trading place which they have shared with us these past four hundred years. Together we will continue the tradition of peace spreading it around the world to all the corners of the world. Peace is the only way our world can survive. But to have peace one must be the best at making war; it is an unfortunate reality.
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