#8: The Pope & Spider Woman Are Not Besties

By Vanessa Bastian on February 28, 2015

Viaggio Di Vanessa #8

Pope Francis and I are not besties. I called out his name, he looked at me, smiled and waved. Yes he did look at me! I was about 8 feet away and it was me he was looking at. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!!

Every Wednesday the pope has an informal blessing, called the Papal Audience. If you are in Rome on a Wednesday make sure you go see the Papal Audience. You can contact the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See (Vatican) for tickets. No, really!

Arrive early! Seating starts around 7:30 a.m. and they stop letting people in with tickets at 9:30 a.m. The address starts around 10am to 11:30 a.m. Listen carefully! If you arrive after 9:30 a.m. they won’t let you in, you’ll have to stand way in the back. That’s what happen to me. I arrived around 9:40 a.m. and was not allowed into the seating area, but I was not going to let this minor detail stop me. For some reason I suddenly thought I was Spider Woman.

I was so tragically far in the back (see the photo below to get an idea of what my tragic reality was at first, because I was late. Don’t be late!), until my Spider Woman powers came over me! I hopped over several gates just to get to the top! I was so scared the Vatican police would catch me and kick me out. I had to push my way to the front, and I snuck up to the VIP area.

As the pope walked by, I shouted “Pope Francisco, my Italian is bad. Can I take a picture with you?” BTW, all the Italians call him Francisco, not Francis. I think it was because I shouted in English that he turned around, stopped and looked at me. At me!!! I froze. The pope is 8 feet in front of me, looking directly at me! So, yes, I froze! Oh, don’t judge! The Italians standing next to me froze, too!

I was frozen Spider Woman!!! It was a moment in time that did not move. He then smiled, waved and moved on. I stood leaning over the gate in shock, then I came to my senses, and rushed to grab my phone and take pictures. There is no zoom on these pictures I was that close!

I’m having a pretty amazing vacation! Ciao from your friendly frozen Spider Woman!

Click on images for a closer look