Pope visits the Synagogue

The big news today is that Pope Benedict XVI is paying a visit to the Main Jewish Synagogue of Rome. He is only the second Pope to set foot in a synagogue. Pope John Paul II was the first, when he visited the very same synagogue in Rome in 1986. The Vatican is literally a 15 min. WALK from the Main Synagogue...and yet this is only the second visit EVER! John Paul II was the first Pope to understand the importance of Jewish/Catholic relations. Pope Benedict's visit today was mired in controversy since he is trying to push Pope Pius XII toward sainthood. Pius was the guy who didn't speak up during the Holocaust. So, needless to say, a few Jews don't believe he deserves to be a saint.

The chaos around the Synagogue on Lungotevere, started yesterday. When Josh was driving Charlotte home from the orthodontist, the riverside road was already completely backed up with satellite trucks and T.V. cameras. Given his experience (anyone been with Josh in the car when there's traffic??), we stayed home today! Actually, in the morning while Josh went on a bike ride, the kids and I ran an errand (to return borrowed luggage) and visited a school friend who lives in the opposite direction -- away from Centro.

The perfectly natural thing to do in Italy when staying home is: cook. So I did. I don't know if it was the freshness of the Branzino, or my skill (?!?), but we enjoyed some of the best fish ever. I made all 2 kilos of fish in the oven with fresh garlic, olive oil, salt water and white wine. Avery and Olivia couldn't get enough. After lunch, everyone was tired, so the boys took a nap while the girls did homework and then compute games.

For dinner we took the kids out for Pizza at Pariolina, our local place on Viale Parioli. I guess a few other families had the same idea as the place was packed.