We, 16 KAAD scholars, have joined forces with our priests – Fr Professor Thomas Eggensperger OP and Fr Professor Ulrich Engel OP – in real life and also in a WhatsApp group and embarked on a study and pilgrimage to Rome from 13 to 19 September 2021. Even though we had difficulties remembering our first names at the beginning, we always looked out for each other, searched for each other so as not to lose each other and waited for each other. The two priests also made sure that we didn't get lost. In this way, our group formed a community without us realising it.
Important sights were on our sightseeing programme every day. Similar to the pilgrims, we walked the Roman roads - but unlike them, we travelled longer distances by bus. Also unlike our historical predecessors, we were able to keep our smartphones at the ready at all times so that we could not only record all the many impressions with our heads and hearts, but also capture them in pictures.
Following in the footsteps of saints, emperors and popes, Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Giordano Bruno and many other personalities, we explored the history of the city and the globe (urbi et orbi). From the dome of St Peter's Basilica, we were able to look out over the whole of Rome and were left breathless by its beauty.
Church services in the chapel of the conference centre, in the catacombs and in the Curia of the Dominican Order in Santa Sabina were just as much a part of the programme as visits to the ancient Imperial Forums, the Colosseum, St. Peter's, Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Paul Outside the Walls, Santa Maria in Trastevere, the German National Church of Santa Maria dell'Anima and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Our days were filled with walks through the Borgo and along Via della Conciliazione, stops at Castel Sant'Angelo, Ponte Sant'Angelo, Piazza Navona (fountain and Santa Agnese), the main building of the Sapienza University and much more. We were also able to visit Lido di Ostia on a day trip and visit Ostia Antica, the excavation site of the ancient city of Ostia, the original harbour city of ancient Rome.
The meeting with Cardinal Peter Turkson, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development from Ghana, was impressive. Humorous, modest and in a good mood, he introduced us to the organisation and work of his Vatican authority. In almost two hours of dialogue with us, he answered personal and (church) political questions and invited us to participate. Without much ado, he won our hearts.
The contributions of some of the scholarship holders to various places of interest and the absolutely extraordinarily competent guidance by our two Fathers Thomas and Ulrich are unforgettable. Despite the effort, we enjoyed our walks through Rome at night in search of new flavours of ‘tipi di gelato’. And we marvelled at the fact that and how we managed to walk almost 12 kilometres a day in the Roman heat and still be able to stand on our feet.
One scholar said what applies to all of us: the trip to Rome will be a highlight of our entire lives.
For me personally, the visit to the main church of Santa Maria Maggiore remains unforgettable. ‘God lives here!’ – That's the message I sent to my parents in Tbilisi – straight after I left the basilica.
Evelin Menteshashvili, Georgia
