Day 36: I've got a golden ticket!

Today I headed off early to the Vatican for a Papal Mass. This was for 2 main reasons; the Opening of the Synod of Bishops and the declaration of St John of Avila and St Hildegard of Bingen as Doctors of the Church. A pretty historic moment as there have only been 33 previous declarations over the past 2000 years!

Again I was lucky to have great seats in the front section, thanks to a letter of reference from Archbishop Adrian, thus the 'golden ticket'!

After wading through the sea of people to get out afterwards, I had a bite to eat and headed to St Paul's Outside the Walls.

This is the tomb of the apostle Paul This week also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the commencement of Vatican II which was announced by Pope John XXIII here.