St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

St. Peter's Square was brimming with humanity yesterday as white smoke rose from the Sistine chimney. A new pope was elected by the Cardinal Electors. The geography of the choice made news: the 366th Holy Father is the first from the Western Hemisphere and the first from the Southern Hemisphere. Godspeed, Pope Francis I. [2002]

St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

Pope John Paul II was installed in 1978. On Sundays, a quarter century later, Poles were still streaming into St. Peter's Square to hear the Polish pope's homily. Is there any question that John Paul Two would have been able to spot the Polish cohort when he surveyed the crowd from his balcony? [2002]

St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

Pilgrims stand on St. Peters Square. Pope John Paul II stands in the window of the papal apartments to deliver a Sunday blessing. The appartamento pontificio is the official residence of the Pope, but during the summer he is likely to be at Castel Gandolfo about 15 miles outside of Rome. [2002]

St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

Jesus said to Peter: "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven." And Peter still has them. So do his successors, the Popes of the Roman Church. Although rarely pointed out, St. Peter's Square is shaped like a keyhole. Visiting the basilica? Then, you will pass through that keyhole as if the door to heaven had been opened unto you. [2002]

St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

The smallest country the world has the largest church in the world. This is St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The Holy See is the navel of the Roman Catholic universe, assembly-place of the faithful, residence of the Pope, location of Michelangelo's Pieta, and burial site of the Apostle Peter. [2002]