NB! · Faith · Interviews · People · Rome

Pope Francis Has Said How He Would Like to Die

Pope Francis has said how he would like to die. Speaking of his health, past and present, Francis I answered the question “How do you imagine your death?”: “As Pope, either in office or as emeritus. And in Rome. I will not go back to Argentina.”

Archive · Geography · Maps · Observations · Rome

Map of Rome from a Ptolemy codex of the late 15th century with the Colosseum and Pantheon

In my view, the best kind of map. Fidelity of scale and distance is of no real consequence for finding one's way anyway, nor are superfluous features, which distract the eye from what truly deserves to be marked on a map. A view of Rome from a codex

Marble relief of a seated woman with two children, with a seated man in a face mask and mittens added on the right by photomontage.

NB! · Observations · Rome · Humour

Montage with Bernie in mittens on a relief of the Altar of Peace

Let us hope it is no accident that Bernie fits so well into the Ara Pacis. To all 🧑🏼‍🎄💋

Architecture · Faith · Art · Observations · People · Rome

Pierre Le Gros’s Statue of Stanislaus Kostka in the Church of Saint Andrew on the Quirinal, Rome

This sculpture, the equal of Bernini's finest works and a flawless example of Roman Baroque, was made in 1703 by the Frenchman Pierre Le Gros: a sculpted portrait of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, the blessed patron of Poland and of lay servants of the Church. It is not the

Faith · Society · Rome

Pope Francis Recited the Angelus Alone on St Stephen's Day Under Italy's Lockdown

Pope Francis today, for the first time as far as I can remember, recited the Angelus on the Feast of Saint Stephen alone, in support of Italy's lockdown measures. Traditionally, after Christmas, Catholics honour Stephen, the martyr stoned to death in the very first persecutions of the Christians.

Faith · Art · Observations · Rome

Ceramic nativity scene by Castelli artisans in Saint Peter's Square in 2020

In St Peter's Square the Christmas tree has been lit and the crib unveiled, which, all in all, has become one more unexpected gesture from Pope Francis. Never before has the Nativity scene been presented in such implausible figures. If I am honest, only the ram in this

Faith · Observations · Rome

Mostly rare photographs of the very few priests who have chosen to wear the long purple or scarlet train-bearing mantle, according to rank, known as the cappa magna, are accompanied by ironic, if not downright mocking, comments and…

One should not suppose that this archaic garment is worn only by the ultra-traditionalist Cardinal Burke, although remarks aimed at him on this score are quite characteristic of how the long cardinalatial cloak is perceived in general. "Burke wears this cloak to spite everyone", "Imagine what

Faith · Mores · Rome · Humour

Cardinal Raymond Burke in cappa magna and reactions to vestment discouraged since 1969

One of the most conservative bishops in the United States, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, in the traditional sumptuous episcopal vestment, the cappa magna. Most people have seen such attire on Catholic bishops and cardinals only in photographs on the internet. Given the rarity of the moment (this sort of choir

NB! · Archaeology · Monarchies · Museums · Science · People · Rome

A reconstruction of Nero's appearance, based on his bust in the Capitoline Museums, lets us see with what expression on his face he made a hell on earth

Faith · Society · Rome

On 30 October the Secretariat of State of the Vatican sent bishops around the world this letter on the Pope's words about civil unions for same-sex couples

On 30 October the Secretariat of State of the Vatican sent bishops around the world this letter on the Pope's words about civil unions for same-sex couples. The text states outright that the statement as presented in Afineevsky's film is, firstly, stitched together from two

Faith · Cinema · Observations · Society · People · Rome

Pope Francis backs civil unions in a documentary film but does not speak of marriage

I see that many media outlets have run headlines along the lines of "Pope recognises gay marriage" or "Pope calls for legalisation of gay marriage". Let us clarify at once. First, today's statement is of a quite different nature, as I wrote earlier; second,

Faith · Society · Rome

For the sake of clarity, it is fair to note that the position on same-sex civil unions voiced today by Pope Francis I goes somewhat beyond the documents of 1986 and 1994 against the legal recognition of gay couples, addressed…

For the sake of clarity, it is fair to note that the position on same-sex civil unions voiced today by Pope Francis I goes somewhat beyond the documents of 1986 and 1994 against the legal recognition of gay couples, addressed to the bishops of the Catholic Church and formally