| A Day in the Life |
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Eternal World Television Network June 1, 2009 Joan Lewis  I went to St. Peter’s Square at 8 this morning to meet the American and Italian camera crew that as in Rome to film a Newt and Callista Gingrich Production special, a DVD entitled “Nine Days That Changed the World” about Pope John Paul’s historic first trip back to his native Poland in June 1979 – almost 30 years ago to the day. That was a trip that did indeed change the world, giving birth to Solidarnosc and, ten years later, to the fall of the Berlin Wall and communism, an anniversary we will all mark this coming November. I first met Newt and Callista when they were in Rome last fall on one of their journeys to places that were such a big part of Pope John Paul’s life, Poland, of course, and Rome and the Vatican. They needed permission to film in St. Peter’s Square and to do b-roll (background film) in the Vatican Gardens, and I helped them obtain this through the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. There were a few problems when the crew arrived at 7 to set up. Even though their permit was all in order, the Italian police who have the duty of watching over St. Peter’s Square, did not want them to come into the square because, they told us, “there would be any motorcades arriving in the square in the morning.” To make a long story short: When I arrived, I spoke to a few people, a number of phone calls were made, documents were looked at and, as all was in order, permission was given to set up and film. As we were setting up, police cars and motorbikes arrived by the dozens, so it seemed, and parked near the Arch of the Bells entrance to Vatican City in St. Peter’s Square, as they cannot enter Vatican City. None of us knew what this was about but when I accompanied two of the camera crew into the Vatican to shoot b-roll, we discovered that eight new ambassadors were presenting their Letters of Credence to Pope Benedict. as each ambassador left, his or her car, replete with Vatican flags and the flags of their country and joined by the cars of the entourage, was driven out of the Vatican where Italian motorcycle police and one police car joined each diplomatic motorcade. The Gingriches arrived and began their work in St. Peter’s Square, and I accompanied two members of the crew with their extremely heavy camera equipment to and through the Vatican Gardens. It was an exquisite morning - blue skies, sunny and warm. If any of you have ever taken a Vatican City tour you know it is a spectacular place to visit with the breathtaking beauty of the gardens, the historic buildings and the exquisite fountains but Vatican City is nothing if not hilly. Matthew and Lauren really had their work cut out, lugging the heavy equipment around but, as you will see in the following photos, we were well rewarded for the effort. Click here for more of Joan's photos |