True, ronc1 -- we were in Italy recently for my daughter's graduation trip with her chorale, and our longest stop was in Rome. Which, to be honest, reminded me of being in New York as far as how people were dressed and how they acted (well, NY is a bit friendlier overall). We got to see the Pope, though (I was thrilled!!) and tour the Vatican with our guide, who was very Roman Catholic, she was my absolute favorite. Her knowledge of history and art history was marvelous & the Sistine Chapel wouldn't have been the same without her. Well, apart from what I already knew and the fact that the whole ceiling seems to come down and out at you due to Michelango's techniques, but nothing really prepared us to actually see it! Anyoo, throughout Italy, complete with these incredible churches & cathedrals we visited (and where the kids got to sing) -- I just couldn't get over being that near Mark's remains at the church in Venice), I was constantly reminded, in a way that history classes just won't do, of the impact of Catholicism on this world and that it is still full of the faithful.

Too bad Berlusconi is such a viper -- our guides didn't like him, either!