In London Still reflecting on Rome

It is a rainy night in London and several of us have had fish and chips at Porters in Covent Garden. Fabulous. I had real beer (that's for Cory and Eric). Gor here about 6 pm

Back to Rome:
We had a wonderful dinner one night in Piazza Minerva - near our hotel. Charming with a huge fountain.

Cardinal Kasper in the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity:
Islam is not found only in Iraq and Iran. It is Rome and chicago. We must cultivate friendships as a start. We don't want a clash of civilizations, but a dialog.

Archbishop Felix Michado in the Pontifical Council for Inter Religious Affairs:
We can't force official dialogs but we can encourage conversation and relationships while being clear that Jesus is Lord. We can build bridges of friendship to encourage peace and understanding. The lack of central authority in Islam makes some of this difficult. Who speaks for them?

Tour of St. Peters Basilica:
I've toured it two times before but never with the cardinal who is the Archbishop of the Basilica!! He led us on an incredible tour. When we came to Pope John Pual II site, the guard moved all the other visitors back so we could go to the front. I got a bit separated and tried to reconnect. The gurad wasn't about to let me in. I said, "I'm with the Cardinal." MAGIC happened and I was in.

Then to the Pieta which Michael Angelo created at age 22. hundreds of peopel were trying to press close in awe and wonder. It is protected by a huge plexiglass box. Our Cardinal walks up to the door at the side and MAGIC the door at the side opens and we go INSIDE!!! All those people wondering who we are. We were gasping in awe. I can't tell you how incredible that was to be that close -- hand-touching close.

Then again ushered into a small and ornate private prayer chapel with the Cardinal.

Met with the Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops - His Emminesnce Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. He is gregarious, kind, lively. Talked about hte role and characteristics of bishops. Good conversation. He ended by saying "You are the visible expression of ecumenism." He greeted each of us individually. Stats: 2603 bishops in the world; 1000 retired bishops. Each one visits the pope every five years.

All these meetings took place inside the Vatical in lovely conference rooms with desks, microphones at each of our places.

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Archbishop Leveda from San Fran.
I had been in this same mtg room in 1994 with the then Cardinal Ratsinger...now Pope Benedict. Leveda is someone we know and in fact often has used the ELCA building for meetings. He was with a group at The Lutheran Center during the Conclave to elect a new bishop. He watched the proceedings from the TV o nthe wall in the Advent Room on the 11th floor. He shushed the group as the white smoke came out and they waited for the announcement. He had not planned to go to the inauguration of the new pope, but then learned who it was and that he was a good friend, so he decided to go to Rome for that incredible historical event. He met with the new Pope to promise his prayers and support and then the Pope told him he was making hi m a Cardinal and he would led the most important congregation in the Vatican. (Congregation means "Unit". He says, "I was floored and tried to talk him out of it!"

Visited the Abby of Sant'Anselmo located higho on one of Rome's seven hills. Met with the Abbot.

Lutherans in Rome - we finished by singing Dona Nobis with them.

PS on our visit to the movie hall that I sescribed last night the actor and director for A Beautiful Life...whose name I can't remember is Italian and was invited in to watch the movie with the Pope. They put the archbishop between them so he wouldnt in his excitement jump into the Popes lap!

All for now - daylight savings starts here tomorrow.
To bed ....