Rome...

...in warm rain, St Peter's Square glittering and wet, a clean smell of pine as the vast Christmas tree that has stood there throughout Christmastide is dismantled, lights glowing high up in the windows of the Apostolic Palace as twilight falls...

I hadn't had huge hopes of getting to Rome - struggled through slushy snow to get to the station, almost certain all flights would still be cancelled - and it was exciting to find the journey was possible after all, and to swoop up above Britain's snowy fields and then land at Ciampino and be met by Sister Marie who with Dr Christine Mugridge had invited me to speak at the launch of a book at Vatican Radio.

Just two days into which to cram so many things: meetings, talks,discussions. Obviously, there was much talk of recent events. Important statement here from Secretary of State, clarifying the official position of the Church - do pass on as required.

We went to the Papal audience - vast crowds packing the Paul VI Hall, large youth groups from Poland, USA, Italy, Spain, seminarians from France, ecumenical group from some international college in Switzerland, parish groups from Hong Kong, and more...young couples in wedding finery asking for a blessing, bishops lining up with H. Father on platform, young people enthusiastically breaking into song...

Topic of the conference/book launch was the Theology of Communication ...interesting to be speaking at HQ of Vatican Radio, lots of people from various publications and other media incl. Edward Pentin who is Rome correspondent for the Catholic Herald, and Joan Lewis of EWTN's Joan's Rome.