Today, was our Papal Audience day.  Although we had a very loud thunderstorm at about 5:00am, when we left at 7:30am, it was clear but very cold (30's) and windy.  We go early so that we can get seats in the front, we did.  The tickets that are issued for the event just get you in to the right section, which are quite large, and then you get your seats.  The audience starts at 10:30am, so we stood in the cold and wind for all this time really wondering why they didn't do it inside where they normally do.  The reason is that they had about 10,000 pilgrims from southern Italy in Rome for the Year of St. Paul and the audience.  We were entertained by the rather large school choir of St. Anthony's High School on Long Island who were seated in the next section.  A little after 10:30, the Pope arrives in his Pope Mobile, and travels around the assembled people, passing us about 10 feet away.  The energy in the crowd is amazing and joy and happiness is everywhere.  He then is driven up the steps of St. Peters, and then ascends the special platform.  After a reading, he addresses the crowd in Italian, his weekly address.  The next sequence is the announcing of many groups in attendance for the Pope to wave to, in English, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Italian and German.  The audience is completed with the Lord's Prayer in Latin.  Since it was now after Noon, we were ready for some warmth, and got a bite to eat.  Our afternoon was spent touring some of ancient Rome.  Our first stop was at Fosse Ardeatine, the spot were the Nazi's murdered more than 300 people pulled off the street in retaliation for the killing of the same number of Germans by the resistance.  It is a very well done shrine.  We then went to the Catacombs of Domitilla to view the ancient Roman burial grounds.  More than 17 miles of tunnels have been found.  Our final stop was for Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul, the final resting place of the apostle Paul.  The second largest church in Rome, it was again spectacular. As this is the year of St. Paul, celebration of Mass only a few feet from his relics was special.