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Wow!!

What else can you say when you’ve just visited the home of the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, met his family, taken pictures with him and Archbishop Thomas Wenski, and roamed around his back lawn while drinking cocktails and eating hors d’ouvres?

Ambassador Miguel Diaz, who describes himself as “a child of Miami,” toasted our group after patiently greeting and taking pictures with every one of the 250 pilgrims who are here in Rome.

He said the multicultural, multilingual environment he experienced while growing up and studying in south Florida — he graduated from St. Thomas University and spent a year at St. John Vianney College Seminary — had prepared him for his current duties as a diplomat. (He is actually a theologian.)

He said that support for “human dignity and inalienable human rights are the clear threads that have run through 27 years of relations between the United States and the Holy See.”

He stressed “the importance of religion in a world that appears more and more fragmented,” and added, “It is vitally important to harness the moral leadership of people of faith to do good.”

Archbishop Wenski, in his remarks, agreed that diplomatic relations with the Vatican are “mutually beneficial” because it provides the U.S. with “a powerful listening post to the world.”

The reception at the ambassador’s residence was just the beginning of what Archbishop Wenski described as an “emotion-filled week” for him. It certainly was special for the rest of us as well. A reception at the ambassador’s house is what all the newly-named U.S. archbishops get when they come to Rome to receive their pallium. The archbishops and pilgrims from Milwaukee, Wis., and Cincinnati, Ohio, will be welcomed by the ambassador later this week.

“He usually does them all together,” said Julieta Valls Noyes, deputy chief of mission for the U.S. embassy to the Holy See. “But this one is special because Miami is special.”

Comments from readers

Araceli Cantero - 06/29/2010 06:39 AM
Ana, your photographs bring back to me very good memories of Rome and all its treasures. But of course, having a special welcome from the US ambassador to the Vatican is not the usual treat. I am glad for you and your family and for us readers who benefit from your experience. We will talk in person when you come back!

Araceli
Maria de los Angeles Hernandez Pistorino - 06/28/2010 11:40 PM
I thank Ana Rodriguez Soto to describe for us the experience of being in Rome for such an honorable occassion for our Archbishop Thomas Wenski. For health reasons we were not able to join you all in Rome, yet Ana let's us enjoy the experience.
Thank you Ana.
Marta Vargas - 06/28/2010 10:26 PM
Ditto on what Richard AND Katherine are saying as well as the fact that, indeed, Miami is special, and very much so, especially in recalling my first time stepping foot here many years ago believing this to just be a "temporarily passing through" to embrace an opportunity to move up the ladder and gain and claim experience in what my corporate Headquarters at the time called 'a showcase market' due to that diversity ... praise God, He had other and far better plans... and years later, after returning for the second time for a much different purpose, the rest is history.... Yes, Miami is special. :)

And the words of Ambassador Miguel Diaz resound deeply: "the importance of religion in a world that appears more and more fragmented" - "It is vitally important to harness the moral leadership of people of faith to do good." Truly powerful words worth reflecting upon.

Thank you! And may this trip continue to hold wonderful blessings for you and every pilgrim!
Katherine Orces - 06/28/2010 09:00 PM
Thank you so much for the beautiful update! I'm a parishioner from Mary Help of Christians in Parkland and have been following Father Manny's updates through Mary Help's facebook page. They have been wonderful - pictures too! God bless you all - what an amazing trip you are all having!!!
Richard DeMaria - 06/28/2010 08:05 PM
Ana, Tough job you have over there, but someone has to do it. Richard

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