Europe 2010
The challenges of traveling when you’re older
Part 4
Private meeting with Cardinal Levada
Tom is 70; his partner Greta is 68. They are in Rome on the first leg of a month-long trip.
A visit to the Vatican
Today’s article is Part 4 of a series of travel articles that are focusing on the challenges of traveling when people are older. So
far, my partner Greta and I are finding plenty of challenges that make travel at our age a bit more difficult.
But, on Saturday, April 17, 2010, we experienced a part of our trip that could be done only because we are older. We couldn’t
have done this when we were younger, not even in our 50s.
The night before we left on this trip, I said to Greta, “I need a book to read on the plane.” She said, “We have several books we
brought from your mom’s, take one of hers.” (Mom passed away last July).
I found a book in Mom’s collection that wasn’t too cumbersome to carry on the airplane, titled, “The Vatican: Behind the Scenes in
the Holy City.” Raised as an Episcopalian, I didn’t know much about the Vatican, or the Catholic religion.
Since Greta and I were taking a tour of the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel, I thought the book would provide valuable background
information, even though it had been published in 1950 and many things have changed at the Vatican in 60 years.
However, there was another reason I wanted to learn more about the Vatican. When Greta attended St. Anthony’s School in Long Beach,
she played in the high school band, even though she was only in the seventh grade. There were several senior me in the band who were
very kind to her.
Several graduates of St. Anthony’s joined the priesthood. One of them, Bill Levada, one of the band members, became the Archbishop of
San Francisco, and while in that position in 2005, he was summoned to work in the Vatican to fill the position vacated by the man who is
now Pope Benedict XVI.
Greta wanted to say hello to Cardinal Levada in person during our visit to Rome. She knew it would be difficult to reach him for he is a high-ranking
cardinal. Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia says Levada occupies “…the most influential position in the government of the Church apart
from the Holy Father himself, Levada is considered the highest ranking American in the institution.”
He is a very busy man.
With the help of friends who are members of St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Dana Point, Greta secured Cardinal Levada’s email address. The week before we were leaving on the trip, she received an email informing her that Cardinal Levada would be happy to meet with us.
We were to go to the Swiss Gate entrance to the Vatican at a designated time. We were excited; this was an once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to catch a little glimpse behind Vatican walls, and Greta would meet with a friend she hadn’t seen in 50+ years.
 A
Swiss guard with a colorful uniform informed us that we could pass through the
gate and directed us to an office building. There, a security guard instructed us to proceed to Cardinal Levada’s office. As we ascended the steps of the building, the chimes from St. Peter’s Basilica began to ring loudly, and as if on cue, there was a clang with each step we took. We looked at each other without murmuring a word.
At the office, we were greeted by yet another official who escorted us into a modest, and yet ornate, audience room, with beautiful paintings and golden antique chairs. Soon Cardinal Levada and his personal assistant entered the room. His greeting to us was very warm and friendly. We visited for 10-12 minutes.
And this is where the book we had brought from my mom’s collection comes in. Greta asked Cardinal Levada if he wouldn’t mind signing it, and he agreed:
“For Greta and Tom, on the occasion of their visit to the Vatican in April, 2010.”
It was signed, “William Cardinal Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (and St. Anthony H.S. grad 1954!)”
At that moment, I knew that Mom was smiling down on us.
And then on a lighter note, we presented Cardinal Levada with a Tutor and Spunky’s Deli (Dana Point) T-shirt (www.tutorandspunkys.com) to remind him of his California roots. He said he just might stop by the deli for a sandwich on his next vacation visit to California, which he often takes during the hot summer months in Rome.
 His secretary took a photo of the three of us and then Cardinal Levada said, to Greta, “Say hello to all of our friends, and especially to your family.” The four of us shook hands and the meeting ended.
As we exited the Swiss Gate, I was so proud of Greta. She had made this exciting aspect of our trip possible. And it will be a memory that we will cherish forever.
To access Tom's ebook, "Italy: 23 Days by Train" follow this link:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/9907
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