On this first Sunday without Angelus, after the resignation of Benedict XVI, St. Peter’s Square, however, has seen many appearances of pilgrims and tourists. Long since mid-morning queue to get into the basilica, which runs in a snake along the right wing of the colonnade.
Around noon, the time when usually the Pope recites the Angelus, many have addressed the goal of cameras and video cameras or mobile phones to the closed window of the papal apartment, which usually overlooks the pope for reflection on the Sunday Gospel and the Marian prayer. But today the only noise timely invades the square is the bell of St. Peter, who began playing shortly after the cannon on the Janiculum, with his usual bang, marks the 12.
Some pilgrims gathered in the square to pray for the pope, who has left and the new has to come. As a large group of middle school students from Rho, near Milan: all wearing the same shirt, white with yellow writing, the papal colors, “Pilgrimage of the Rho ninth grade.” Gathered at the foot of the obelisk are offered to the objectives of the photographers and then burst into applause.
Nearby, other young people, blue cap on his head, sit down and eat a sandwich. A group of Neocatechumenal from Catania, unrolled a banner: a police car alongside them to see which is the slogan and to control the situation: “The Neocatechumenal Benedict XVI greets the pilgrims,” reads the inscription. It’s ok. The group, then, equipped with guitars and mandolin, he begins to play and sing songs. It should be noted also a dense crowd of pilgrims with yellow scarf around his neck, accompanied by a monk with robe and camera: the religious films so much of what happens in the square, following his team to document this very special moment for the Church.
A long line of people winds even before the mobile station of the Vatican Post Office located in the square, to win the special postmark put to use for waiver of the pontificate of Benedict XVI on the occasion of philatelic series `Vacant MMXIII ‘.