������Ƶapp

“It was absolutely spontaneous,” said Vadacchino, a retired teacher from the Niagara Catholic school board. “I was speaking with my son and said golly I wish I was there. When the white smoke came I said that������Ƶapp it, I’m going.”

But at 67, Vadacchino, a grandmother of 10, didn’t want to make the trip alone. Widowed in 2008, Vadacchino turned to her next closest companions, her grandchildren.

Narrowing down the list was difficult though.

“That������Ƶapp tough when you have 10 grandkids,” she said. “I had to have somebody who was able to take care of their bags themselves so I chose the easiest way. I picked my oldest grandson and my oldest granddaughter who are first cousins.”

On March 16 the trio embarked on a journey that would end in Rome the following day. And then the experience really began.

After checking into their hotel room, which was within walking distance of the Vatican, Vadacchino felt a walk was in order to stretch their legs. They headed towards Castel Sant’Angelo, but when the dome of St. Peter������Ƶapp Basilica appeared on the horizon decided to push onward.

“I said to them we’re not going to get inside, it will be all closed off getting ready for Tuesday (the Pope������Ƶapp inauguration),” she said. “Lo and behold there were people going in so we got in. We were walking around and we could here just Mass chanting and I looked up and there were cardinals and bishops up there in the nave.”

Agreeing to remain seated and to refrain from taking photos, a security guard let them stay for the Mass, ushering them into the front row.

“We didn’t expect to get in but we went through security just like it would be at an airport and managed to get into St. Peter������Ƶapp Basilica to sit in on a Mass in the front row,” said Zachary Heil, Vadacchino������Ƶapp 13-year-old grandson. “That was just very beautiful.”

During the Mass they received communion from a cardinal, which left young Elizabeth Vaddachino speechless.

“That was truly amazing that we actually got to see a Mass and just to even sit down in there and get that close to the altar in the front row was just overwhelming,” said the 11-year-old. “We got communion from a cardinal. I never thought I would ever even get to see a cardinal that close.”

The trio was also fortunate to get within 50 metres of Pope Francis as he travelled through the streets in the popemobile, top down, towards his inaugural Mass.

“He came right out and drove through and I think he drove his security people crazy; he had no plexiglas or anything,” said Vaddachino.

For all three this signified the Pope is a man of the people.

“He is a hand of the people and he doesn’t use it and take it to a higher extent,” said Elizabeth. “He������Ƶapp like one of us, he������Ƶapp just a normal person and I think that������Ƶapp really cool.”

Vaddachino also ensured her grandchildren got to absorb some of the non-Catholic culture Rome offers.

“I thought it was important for them to see the history of the city.”

Vaddachino hopes the three days in Rome will leave a lasting impression on her grandchildren.

“My faith is hugely important to me and I hope to my children and to my grandkids,” she said. “I hope this moment, these three days that we shared in that special city, is going to motivate my grandkids to carry on in their faith.”