Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day

It's raining in Rome now. A weather front has moved on, a celebration has ended, a mourning is over, a journey has been completed. What remains in the mind's eye are the images of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. What remains in Rome is the note that was written in that reflective few minutes after having moved past the bier in St Peter's and before moving out into Thursday morning's light. Paper and pen were made available for the purpose and thousands upon thousands of scribbled pages were piled on every available surface. One more was added to the pile and addressed, like most, to Karol Wojtyla. It read:

"Protect our family and friends in Ireland, New York, Germany and Italy. Help the sick and suffering everywhere, especially in Tanzania. And a special wish for Patricia at this time. Pray for the world."

Mere words. More words. But that's all one can manage at such moments in such places. And anyway, in the beginning was the word.