The Roman Holiday Hamster

HAMSTER WHEEL
Trisha Thomas aka Mozzarella Mamma frantically heading towards the Christmas holidays

Dear Blog Readers— Yes, that photo above is me—a crazed Roman Holiday Hamster running frenetically, non-stop in my wheel and never getting anywhere. This week, a young man asked me if I would contribute a blog post to his travel blog.  I asked him what specifically he would like and he suggested a post describing the holiday traditions in Italy.  It would have been lovely to write about the delicious panettone Christmas cake, the elaborate nativity scenes (villages really) that Italians set up in their homes, and the famous cenone (big holiday dinners).  But unfortunately, I haven’t had the time.  I have not even bought a single Christmas present. There is one man responsible for my delinquency from my Mamma holiday duties: Pope Francis.  Yes, he is the one.   This Pope just never stops making news.  Every time I think I might have a slow day, and maybe can slip out of work to buy a few presents, I find myself scurrying over to the Vatican for another story.

The linked hands of a couple dancing the tango outside the Vatican for Pope Francis' 78th birthday.  December 17, 2014. Photo by AP Photographer Gregorio Borgia for Mozzarella Mamma
The linked hands of a couple dancing the tango outside the Vatican for Pope Francis’ 78th birthday. December 17, 2014. Photo by AP Photographer Gregorio Borgia for Mozzarella Mamma

I became a television journalist because I love “being there.”  and I often feel as I have covered Pope Francis that I am witnessing something important. Ever since I was little, I loved seeing things happen and then telling them to other people.  When I was younger I had a tendency to embellish a bit.   When I would launch into one of my stories at dinner, my family members would shrug their shoulders, sigh and say, “there she goes again, it is another one of Trisha’s Tall Tales”. Of course as a professional journalist, I had to tame that flare to embellish.  With time I learned that once you’ve delivered the facts, it is the delicious details that make a Tale special.  Those details can be delivered in the form of words, or in the case of video and photography with a special, detailed image.  More on that later.

Press conference on Apostolic Visitation of US Nuns at the Vatican.  Freeze frame of video shot by AP Television cameraman Pietro De Cristofaro. December 16, 2014
Press conference on Apostolic Visitation of US Nuns at the Vatican. Freeze frame of video shot by AP Television cameraman Pietro De Cristofaro. December 16, 2014

On Tuesday, I found myself at the Vatican for the much-anticipated, and feared report on the “Apostolic Visitation of Institutes of Women Religious in the United States.”  This whole Apostolic Visitation business began back in 2008 when under Pope Benedict XVI, the Vatican ordered an investigation into U.S. women’s religious orders. At the time the women were considered too liberal and, God Forbid, might even include some feminists. So the conference room at the Vatican was packed on Tuesday with journalists eager for a juicy story that was supposed to go like this “the nasty all-male Vatican hierarchy is taking to pieces the honest, hard-working, devoted American sisters”. However, as the press conference got underway it quickly became clear it was going another direction.  It was all sunshine and rose petals.  The Vatican report praised the nuns, noting that American sisters have “courageously been on the forefront of her evangelizing mission, selflessly tending to the spiritual, moral, educational, physical and social needs of countless individuals, especially the poor and the marginalized.” I was frantically taking notes, but all of us in the room began glancing up and looking at each other questioningly.  What was going on?  Instead of talking about the problem of “feminists” the report was praising “the feminine genius.” Sister Clare Millea, Director of the Apostolic Visitation, who was responsible for interviewing nuns across the United States for the report broke down in tears as she said, “Your message to us today shows that you do understand our on-going struggle to faithfully serve the church in challenging times despite our shortcomings and limitations.” Sister Sharon Holland, President of the “Leadership Conference of Women Religious” said that at the beginning the visitation was met with some “apprehension” and that “Some congregations said older sisters felt that there whole lives had been judged and found wanting” but in the end she said they have an “affirmative and realistic report.” Finally sister Millea pointed out “If you ask ‘where is the controversy?” Sorry, there isn’t any.” And that was that.  I am sure all you wise blog readers have read more on this elsewhere, so I will move on.

Pope Francis at his weekly  audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014.  Photo by AP Photographer Alessandra Tarantino for Mozzarella Mamma
Pope Francis at his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014. Photo by AP Photographer Alessandra Tarantino for Mozzarella Mamma

Wednesday was the Pope’s 78th birthday, which happened to coincide with his Wednesday weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square.  There can be no doubt that Pope Francis is in a hurry.  It is as though he thinks he doesn’t have much time – in fact he is the first Pope I have seen consult his watch with regularly.  I think he is conscious of his age and has a lot of things he wants to change at the Vatican and in the world before his time is up. But he always has plenty of time for the people who come to his weekly audience.  He rides around St. Peter’s Square in his pope-mobile stopping to kiss babies, caress the handicapped, and greet the faithful. This Wednesday was no exception.  The crowd was eager to celebrate.  They presented him with a cake (he blew out the candles), they gave him cards (he asked “did you draw this?”) they presented him with birthday balloons and traditional Argentinian Mate drink (he drank it) and  a group of homeless people gave him sunflowers.

Pope Francis blows out candles on a birthday cake for his 78th birthday during his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square. Photo by AP photographer Alessandra Tarantino for Mozzarella Mamma. December 17, 2014
Pope Francis blows out candles on a birthday cake for his 78th birthday during his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square. Photo by AP photographer Alessandra Tarantino for Mozzarella Mamma. December 17, 2014

Following the audience thousands of people gathered around the square and danced the tango in his honor.

Dancers swirling around in St. Peter's Square doing the tango for the Pope in honor of his 78th birthday.  Freeze frame of video shot by AP Television cameraman Luigi Navarra. December 17, 2014
Dancers swirling around in St. Peter’s Square doing the tango for the Pope in honor of his 78th birthday. Freeze frame of video shot by AP Television cameraman Luigi Navarra. December 17, 2014

Speaking of details, AP cameraman Gigi Navarra got fabulous shots from the ground of dozens of feet twirling around on the cobblestones.  And AP photographer Gregorio Borgia captured a happy couple tango-ing cheek to cheek.

A couple dancing the tango cheek-to-cheek at the Vatican to celebrate Pope Francis' 78th birthday. Photo by AP photographer Gregorio Borgia for Mozzarella Mamma. December 17, 2014
A couple dancing the tango cheek-to-cheek at the Vatican to celebrate Pope Francis’ 78th birthday. Photo by AP photographer Gregorio Borgia for Mozzarella Mamma. December 17, 2014

That was enough of a birthday celebration for me.  But the news from the Vatican didn’t stop. Late Wednesday came the stunning announcement that the US was normalizing relations with Cuba (cut off in January 1961) and that President Obama in a speech from the White House said “His Holiness Pope Francis issued a personal appeal to me”…and later added, “I want to thank His Holiness Pope Francis, whose moral example shows us the importance of pursuing the world as it should be, rather than simply settling for the world as it is.” Yesterday the Vatican released a statement saying that the Vatican had hosted a meeting between American and Cuban officials in October and “provided its good offices to facilitate a constructive dialogue on delicate matters, resulting in solutions acceptable to both parties.“ Since the Pope is in a hurry, so am I.  At 7am this morning I was frantically buzzing about the kitchen—simultaneously making fresh squeezed orange juice for the family, unloading the dishwasher, making Caffe Latte, preparing tea, and setting the table for breakfast. (Normal Mom stuff). My daughter Chiara grumpily came in the kitchen, plopped down in her chair at the table and sat there hunched over watching me zip around.  Then finally she said, “MOM!!!!!” so I stopped and looked and her and she said, “can you CHILL???!!” I think the short answer to that question  is “no”, and the correct answer might be “not until after Christmas,” or maybe “not as long as Pope Francis is around.” Once the girls were off to school, I found myself at 8am calling the Pope’s spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, asking for a comment and explanation.  Later at the Vatican, Lombardi explained to me that the Vatican has been working on this issue for a long time and that many Popes were concerned about Cuba-US relations. He pointed out that both Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI visited Cuba.  But he also said he thought that it was Pope Francis’ personal interactions that made the difference.  Lombardi said the Pope is hoping to make strides on questions of peace and dialogue in other parts of the world.  The Pope has spoken extensively about conflicts in the Middle East but has also expressed keen interest in questions regarding Russia and China. Who knows what will be next on the Pope’s geo-political to-do list, but we do know he is not wasting any time. I guess I will wrap this blog post here because I need to be back at the Vatican early tomorrow morning for a Christmas Mass for the homeless at the Sant’Anna Church just inside the Vatican wall. Maybe this weekend I will have time to make some Christmas cookies and buy some presents. …and my little Roman Holiday Hamster wheel keeps on going around and around and around.

17 thoughts on “The Roman Holiday Hamster”

  1. Trisha – while I am very impressed by Pope Francis’s many initiative, I was very surprised when he refused an audience with the Dalai Lama in Rome. Tibetans have been peacefully struggling for decades to get rid of Chinese occupation. Millions are living in exile across the world and it would have helped them get the attention of the world back on them instead of people who blow up hospitals and shoot school children.

    1. I was also surprised by the decision of the Vatican not to grant the Dalai Lama a meeting with the Pope. I know the Pope is very eager to establish relations with China (as was Pope Benedicti XVI before him) and I know he is eager to reach out to all the Catholics in China both in the official church and the unofficial church. At the end of the day, Pope Francis is a Jesuit and Jesuits are known for being very astute and clever. I think the Vatican, and therefore Pope Francis, decided to risk offending the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans so as to improve the situation with the Chinese government and therefore eventually get more access to the Chinese Catholics. You are right though, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans deserve recognition for their peaceful struggle.

  2. . . perhaps he’ll influence Obomba to normalise relations with much of the world – Ukraine; Syria; Iraq; Sudan; Yemen; Somalia; most of Africa; Russia; China; et al – Now that really would get him cononised or whatever.

  3. Enjoyable reading as usual with some added tidbits to stories I had heard about. Since I am traveling to my brothers and don’t know if he still has his old computer that I use, I want to be sure to send you my best wishes for the season.
    Buon Natale and Buon Anno!
    A presto,
    Joan

  4. Wonderful descriptions! Gotta love that hamster — been there, done that, in fact, keep doing that! And thanks for all the details about the Pope and Obama and Cuba. We get snippets on the news, but they are very small, most of the details are about the screaming Republicans who oppose what Obama just did. Yet I believe in very short order it will be hailed as a great business success, and the GOP will be caught having to oppose business in order to stop Obama, or having to live with this master stroke of his. Right now we endlessly caught up in the North Korean hacking of Sony pictures, and the cancellation of Seth Rogan’s comedy. The amusing thing is that the North Koreans call themselves GOP, Guardians of Peace I think it is. Yes, it is hard to turn off the news! But best of all, we have you to report it to us!
    Good luck on the Christmas shopping – there is a big tradition of last minute shopping over here — and maybe you can get Chiara to make those cookies! Merry days, Trisha –

    1. Thank you Nancy. Yes the news about Sony and the film is really crazy business. I didn’t know that GOP part — how funny. Yes, I think I am not the only Holiday Hamster around– we all have trouble making the final spring towards Christmas.

  5. What a beautiful and thoughtful post. The pictures were beautiful and reminded me through my own Christmas whirlwind, what Christmas is really all about. And this Pope reaffirms why I became a Catholic. I took today off to bake cookies and wish I could send some off to you to help get one thing off your list. I hope you get all of your pre-Christmas ‘to-dos’ completed and that you and your family have a Buon Natale! On a last note-will you be traveling with the pope’ press corps to the U.S. next fall?

    1. Thank you Kay. I wish I could get some of your Christmas cookies. I am sure they are delicious. As far as the Pope’s trips are concerned. AP Television takes turns doing Agency Pool on the Papal Plane with Reuters. So I get to do every other trip. Unfortunately, I will not get to do the trip in January to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Depending on what other trips he has planned for 2015, I may or may not be on the US trip. I certainly hope to go on that one it is bound to be interesting!

  6. Oh my Trish – I don’t know how you manage it all. You are really running around like a mad hamster. But I’m grateful for the work you do and these informative posts. If I lived in Rome, I’d help you out with holiday baking and cooking. What is truly inspiring is this pope. I hope he achieves for the Western hemisphere ( and other places) what John Paul II achieved for Eastern Europe. He is the right man at the right time. And what I wouldn’t give to be in your place right now, frenzy and all.

    1. Thank you Linda. I wish you were here and we could do some Christmas baking together — that would be such fun. This Pope really is something and I like your thought — wish he could do for the West what JPII did for the Eastern Europe.

  7. Having such a great reporter to provide the news less reported and first hand interpretations. Is Christmas gift enough. I can say I have my sources beyond the NYT and the Economist. If you ever have a chance I would love to hear more on the the Nun’s Apostolic visitation. That is something the Times and Economist didn’t provide.

    I hope you have a slightly calmer Christmas week

    L/D

    1. Thank you Dad. I will tell you more about the Apostolic Visitation in phone conversation. If I had more time, it would definitely be worth a blog post. The situation of nuns in the United States is so difficult — there numbers are decreasing dramatically — they have not dwindled to 50,000 and the average age is in their 70s. There was so much anger and concern about this “investigation” into the nuns that began under Benedict XVI. No one could understand why the Vatican would want to crackdown on these good women. But in the end, the report was a total about face from what appeared to be at the beginning. Now, is that due to the change in Pope? Or is it due to what they discovered once they started the investigation? Anyway– I am going to have to let this one slide for lack of time.

  8. This one made me laugh out loud. My, but you must really be on the go. The Pope certainly is. People here seem to really like him, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He really is a Pope for our times, I think. Christmas is over now, and I hope things have calmed down for you. I also hope that you did get some Christmas cooking done – even a little bit. About that post about Christmas traditions in Italy, my but that could be an entire book! Best wishes to you and yours for a terrific 2015.

    1. Thanks Adri — I had a few days with my family. Cooked a good Christmas dinner although had a bit of a shock when I went to pick up the Turkey that I had ordered at the butcher and he gave me a de-boned already stuffed Turkey and charged me a small fortune for it. Now we are very busy in the office with the Greek ferry fire and the massive Italian rescue effort. Never a dull moment around here. Wishing you a wonderful 2015 and I can’t wait to see some pictures of your re-done home.

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