At the General Audience with Pope Benedict XVI

Today we were blessed to get good seats at the Holy Father's weekly general audience. The Pope here makes his way through the vast crowds that had gathered in St. Peter's square for the event.

Two hours of waiting in the relentless Roman sun were well worth it to get this photograph of the Holy Father waving to the section of the crowd we were in.

The Holy Father descends to greet the crowds that had gathered in St. Peter's square.

There was at least one ecstatic mother in Rome today as the Pope receives the infant held out to him.

The Pope blesses the crowds at the end of the general audience.

In the afternoon we were able to visit the beautiful basilica of St. Paul's outside the walls.

The nave of the basilica with the confession of St. Paul in the distance, where the body of St. Paul lies below the high altar.

In the confession we were also able to venerate the chains that St. Paul was bound in.

At the end of another tiring day, with the sun setting and the pilgrimage to Rome almost at an end, the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer line up in front of the obelisk in front of St. Peter's basilica.