Miguel de Portugal's Rome Trip
during the Conclave that elected Benedict XVI
General observations in Rome during a second "on command" trip to The Vatican by Miguel de Portugal (1)
April 17, 2005 - April 21, 2005
during the Conclave that elected Benedict XVI
General observations in Rome during a second "on command" trip to The Vatican by Miguel de Portugal (1)
April 17, 2005 - April 21, 2005
The following are general observations which are intended to give the faithful: (a) A bird's eye view of the Rome and Vatican scenes during the recent Conclave; and (b) A better understanding of the ever increasing problems the Roman Catholic Church continues to face with no let up in sight.
1. As stated in the report on the first trip to Rome – the atmosphere in this trip was that of a Theme Park such as Disney World and others. Ear plugs were a must to maintain some semblance of recollection in the Holy Sanctuaries.
2. In spite of the large festive crowds, which, although not as great as reported, were
ample – this writer had the opportunity to adore Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in the
appropriate chapel in St. Peter's without any difficulty. There was always plenty of room in that
chapel (and little interest amongst "the faithful" to honor God in His Eucharistic presence).
Those who came, stayed just briefly. A pair of earplugs were indeed a blessed companion to M de P.
3. There were always confessors available. However, it seems that all the faithful present
in Rome at that time were in an immaculate state – since the confessionals were not visited
much. But... what is new – besides the reality that the situation is worse?
4. In the Arch Basilica of S. John of Lateran —the Mother of all Churches— the scene
was not much different. There was ample room to adore our Eucharistic Lord and no interest to
partake of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, even though there were always confessors available.
5. In the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the oldest church ever dedicated to Mary and built in
response to a request from Our Lady (and now the "Flag Ship" Basilica of Bernard Law
(2), the living "Patron Saint" of pedophile
priests (3)), it was more of the same. Not much interest
in
Eucharistic Adoration and no interest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Should we be surprised with such a "Patron Saint" (4) in charge?
6. Visited the Castle of St. Angelo around noon of the 19th of April (that afternoon the
election was completed). This is actually the Castle of St. Michael which has an enormous statue
of St. Michael at its summit and another very large one in an inside courtyard. The throng of
tourists, passed off by the programmed media as devoted faithful, was not large.Eucharistic Adoration and no interest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Should we be surprised with such a "Patron Saint" (4) in charge?
This writer “continued to make a spectacle of himself” by Vatican standards... Undaunted by
the Country Fair grounds atmosphere, he offered the Chaplet of St. Michael before the imposing
statue at the summit of the castle, and also offered the Prayer of the Angelus.
7. The "Noon Fumata" —the smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel around noon— was
witnessed from this vantage point. As scheduled, it was still dark.
8. In the afternoon of that same date, and moved by the knowledge that the election would
be announced that afternoon, he returned to St. Peter's Square. A very striking change from the
morning crowd was noticed. The morning “Fumata watching crowd” had the normal curious tourist
flavor to it. The afternoon crowd was all ready for the “surprise” announcement. Plenty of
banners, flags from different nations, etc. – all that was needed for a well-orchestrated
“spontaneous” celebration at the election of a Pope.
9. With the smoke stack from the Sistine Chapel shown on all the giant screens around St.
Peter's, everyone waited with great anxiety for the "news". Naturally, the only fool that seemed
to be praying in the area was Miguel de Portugal. By his third day at St. Peter's he was under the
watchful eye of security because he was acting significantly different than the milling crowds –
he was praying most of the time. This is not an exaggeration!
10. Close to 6 P.M. (cannot be certain of the exact minute) smoke started pouring out the
closely-watched, well-televised chimney. The crowd started cheering and went silent again. It was
very hard to tell whether it was dark or white smoke – it could have been difficulty at the
source, the lighting and/or the projected image on the screens. Not to worry – it had been made
known from after the first vote that St. Peter's Bells would toll as a confirmation because of
this visual problem.
Logically, the order to toll the bells would come from the same individuals who were trying to get
the right colored smoke come out from the chimney. All this was completely logical —no
conspiracy theory— just a practical fool proof and much welcomed method to confirm to the crowd
that an election had been made.
11. The crowds cheered and then went silent and then cheered again, etc. as the smoke
refused to reveal its secret. Truly —it was a 50-50 chance— it was simply impossible to
ascertain what color it was. What was really strange is that it was more than 20 minutes before
St. Peter's bells tolled. This unusual situation was picked up by many – press included. Maybe
the Bell Tolling Instruction Book had been misplaced...
12. What was so striking, enough to force Miguel de Portugal to try to figure out how to
use the camera built in his mobile phone was that – no sooner those bells started tolling, what
was a partly (but lightly) clouded sky became ominously dark and a chilling cold wind started
blowing with significant strength. M de P took refuge under the colonnade because the impression
was that of an impending fierce rainstorm. The rainstorm did not materialize – it was just
“Heaven speaking”.
Image No. 1 recorded by the camera as taken at 6:15 PM - 19 April
2005
Image No. 2 recorded by the camera as taken at 6:16 PM - 19 April 2005
Image No. 3 recorded by the camera as taken at 6:17 PM - 19 April 2005
Image No. 2 recorded by the camera as taken at 6:16 PM - 19 April 2005
Image No. 3 recorded by the camera as taken at 6:17 PM - 19 April 2005
13. At this point M de P noticed that masses of people were pouring into St. Peter's Square
through every possible avenue from Rome leading to it. Since he knew that the election had been in
accordance to the Active Will of God, he did not really care who had been the man elected;
therefore, he left the refuge of the colonnade and headed toward the Metro. About three blocks
from the Square, while walking against the sea of people rushing towards St. Peter's, he heard the
sound of sirens, and music from a marching band.
Sure enough! A spectacular Marching Band wearing an even more spectacular uniform and head gear
was also heading to St. Peter's to celebrate the election. The only thought which crossed M de P's
mind was: “We should be so lucky if firemen and/or medical emergency personnel would respond so
quickly to an emergency – even though they do not have to get into such spectacular and
elaborate uniforms.” Who knows, Princess Diana would still be alive if those who rushed to the
scene of her accident in Paris would have been so swift or so programmed...
May those who Have Eyes, See, and Ears, Hear
(5).
14. In spite of all (confirming information) that M de P had been a witness of so far, God
still had additional rewards awaiting for him in the flight out of Rome scheduled for April 21st
– on the 2758th birthday celebration of Rome.
In addition to the already addressed avoidable scandal of the high profile Spanish Cardinal Rouco
Varela rubbing in the face of a full plane of Spaniards and members of the media that he was
flying First Class – just what Jesus would not do! [Points to Ponder post dated April 22,
2005] God had even more surprises for M de P.
Through an obvious act of Providence, M de P ended up sitting in the airplane between two members
of the Press Corps. One was obviously a commentator since he was going through six or seven
newspapers in different languages, fast and furiously, reading all articles dealing with the
election while underlining and circling this and that.
The second one was less obvious. As he conversed with M de P, it became obvious that he had
traveled extensively worldwide for the last 30 years, then, that he was somehow associated with
the Press and, above all, that he was an upstanding non fanatical Catholic who understood and
fully lived his Faith. Then it became clear that he was in Rome reporting on the Conclave.
Following are the highlight of his comments about this experience:
(1) He had been treated so badly by the Navarro-Valls
(6) led Vatican Press office that, although
he was going to stay to report on Sunday's Inaugural Mass and then fly on to Milan for another
major event to report on, he opted to fly out of Rome, skip the Sunday Mass (report on it from the
TV reports) and fly back to Milan on Monday.
(2) The Vatican Press office had made available only four or five computers
for the thousands upon thousands of accredited journalists present for these events. This
obviously very experienced gentleman could not make sense of this, since for much lesser news
events the host organization always made available to the Press every possible convenience to work
with. He was thankful for a religious order in Rome, with whom he had excellent rapport, who
assisted him in trying to do his work.
(3) The one time he went (tried to go, anyway) to the Vatican Press Office to seek some
information —with his accreditation card
hanging from his neck as required— he was rudely stopped just at the entrance and rushed out of the door in spite of his protests.
This explained to M de P what he saw when a Vatican Security officer forbade an obvious professional photographer —with his
accreditation card hanging from his neck as required— to continue filming whatever he was filming in St. Peter's Square.
hanging from his neck as required— he was rudely stopped just at the entrance and rushed out of the door in spite of his protests.
This explained to M de P what he saw when a Vatican Security officer forbade an obvious professional photographer —with his
accreditation card hanging from his neck as required— to continue filming whatever he was filming in St. Peter's Square.
15. Upon landing, and just before deplaning, M de P and his new found journalist friends bade good bye. Then the gentleman with whom he had interacted most with (see above), pulled his business card and gave it to him. As it turned out, this "reporter" was no one other than the Director of a major newspaper in one of the most important countries in Latin America. In major events, he does not send his reporters to cover it; he goes himself in person.
We praised God because this man —certainly not anti Catholic— received a first hand taste of the media manipulation by the Vatican and, of course, now he will understand, with additional information that God Providentially supplied him, what is really behind all of this.
To the work that must be carried out by M de P – this was "the cherry applied to the frosting on the cake", so to speak!
A most worthwhile trip! (In addition to the primary reasons for which he was commanded to Rome in very short notice.)
NOTES
(1) This was his fourth trip to Rome, but the second one after his miraculous
conversion in 1985.
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