As these Italian Catholics prayed, two white birds appeared out of the night sky and circled overhead for a few moments in stark contrast to the gloomy mist. I only noticed them because some tourists standing nearby began pointing up and exclaiming.  Probably means nothing...but maybe not. You never know about these things, especially in this town full of relics and the bones of saints.

Tomorrow at 7 am I will be inside St. Peter’s for the Traditional Latin Mass, which happens every day now thanks to Pope Benedict’s motu proprio.  Over at The Remnant’s Facebook page www.Facebook.com/TheRemnantNewspaper  some video we shot is available of the beautiful moment tonight in the Piazza, as well as a clip of two young college students we interviewed today who rather excitedly reported how they’ve discovered dozens of traditional Latin Masses going on in Rome since they’ve been studying over here…including, astonishingly enough, as many as 7 traditional Masses at one time taking place on side altars on a daily basis inside the Basilica of St. Peter itself.

I’m having a difficult time finding reasons not to be even more grateful to Pope Benedict for so much of what he attempted to do. Despite our differences of opinion, I fear we will soon begin to miss him perhaps more than we ever thought we would.

Conclave Start Date: Tuesday, March 12. Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of the Princes of the Church.