Travel

Roman holiday: Bishop Daniel E. Thomas shares some of his favorite places in Italy's 'Eternal' city

In 1987, Bishop Daniel Thomas – then Father Thomas – was assigned to Rome for graduate studies with residence at the Pontifical North American College, Casa Santa Maria. Before his studies were completed, he was assigned as an official of the Congregation for Bishops at the Holy See. While working at the Vatican, Bishop Thomas resided at the Pontifical North American College Seminary where he also served as an adjunct spiritual director for seminarians. “It was a profoundly enriching experience to live at the heart of the Church,” Bishop Thomas shared. He remained in Rome until 2005. “During my 18 years in Italy, I grew to know and love the culture, the people, the food,” Bishop Thomas remarked. Based on his experience, Bishop Thomas shares his favorite faith, food, and cultural destinations, as well as some stories from his time in Rome!

FOOD

Italy is famous worldwide for its incredible food and drink. Prior to arriving in Italy, Bishop Thomas was never a coffee drinker, however, he began stopping at a coffee shop for a cappuccino each morning on his walk to work Bishop

Thomas also began curating a book of business cards from restaurants that he liked so he could recommend them to visitors Included in the book are cards for Rinaldi Al Quirnale, a restaurant for a very special occasion The restaurant specializes in fish and is owned by Antonio, a personal friend of Bishop Thomas

Another notable eatery for Bishop Thomas is Ristorante Abruzzi, which serves his favorite pasta rigatoni carbonara and monte bianco dessert Nearby the North American College Seminary are pizzerias called La Vittoria and Sor Eva which Bishop Thomas highly recommends His favorite pizza is Margherita con rughetta - essentially salad greens atop a pizza! It would not be a trip to Italy without sampling gelato Bishop Thomas prefers Fior di Panna, which he describes as “vanilla off the charts,” with Perugina dark chocolate He shares advice for ordering gelato with a laugh: “when they ask con or senza panna, always con panna,” which means always with whipped cream.

A VISIT TO REMEMBER

In 1994, Bishop Thomas’ parents, Francis and Anna, visited Rome . It was the only time his mom ever flew on a plane! Their two weeks in Italy included precious memories that Bishop Thomas fondly recalls today.

Enjoying a classic cena with Archbishop John Foley and his parents during their visit in 1994.

PHOTO COURTESY BISHOP DANIEL E THOMAS/DIOCESE OF TOLEDO

Among the memories are each of his parents’ favorite foods His mother’s favorite pasta was from the Ristorante Abruzzi in SS. XII Apostoli Piazza Anna ordered paglia e fieno al salmone – a green and yellow spinach and wheat pasta that translates to straw and hay with salmon! While in Rome, his dad Fran enjoyed any type of Italian pizza because he loved thin crust pizza and any kind of gelato.

The visit stands out to Bishop Thomas as one of his favorite memories with his parents.

FAITH

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica.

Any trip or pilgrimage to Rome, Bishop Thomas insists, should include visits to the four major Basilicas: the Basilica of St Peter, the Basilica of St . Paul Outside the Walls, the Basilica of St Mary Major and the Arch-Basilica of St John Lateran Bishop Thomas recommends booking the Scavi Tour at St Peter’s Basilica The Vatican Scavi Tour winds through the excavations (catacombs) below St . Peter’s Basilica, where the tomb of St Peter is located, which is one of the most exclusive tours in Rome Only 250 people are permitted to enter it each day . It requires reservations but the experience is magnificent! While in Italy, Bishop Thomas offered morning Mass on occasion in the Vatican Grottoes below St Peter’s “As you went downstairs, you could hear Mass being prayed in 4 or 5 languages . The Universal Church was literally present to you,” he explained . A less well-known church that Bishop Thomas would stop in on his way to or from work is the Church of the Holy Spirit The 12th-century church is notable not only for its beauty but also because St . John Paul II made it a sanctuary for Divine Mercy in 1991 Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill is special to Bishop Thomas because he celebrated the marriage of his dear friends there using four languages!

A GREAT GRACE

Above, gathered in 2005 with the superiors and staff of the Congregation for Bishops at a private papal audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

Shortly before leaving Rome, Bishop Thomas was present for the death of Pope St John Paul II, his subsequent funeral, and the election of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI . He considers those experiences one of the greatest graces during his time in Rome

CULTURE

One of the best parts of Rome is simply soaking in the culture A great way to do that is a walking tour of the various piazzas, which are open gathering spaces. Bishop Thomas’ favorite piazzas include Piazza Navona, Piazza del Pantheon, Piazza Farnese, and the Piazza Trevi, home of the famous Trevi Fountain . Speaking of fountains, Bishop Thomas has a favorite, and it is not the Trevi Fountain.

The Turtle Fountain, a late Italian Renaissance sculpture located in Piazza Mattei, is Bishop Thomas’ personal favorite There is no shortage of museums (like the Vatican Museums, of course!) A great option that Bishop Thomas recommends is the Borghese Gallery, where you will see the works of Bernini, Caravaggio and Raphael Bishop Thomas tried to avoid the more “touristy” activities while he lived in Rome, but near the end of his time there, he decided to go on a doubledecker sightseeing tour bus “I was so glad I did because it was so much fun,” Bishop shared.

In St. Peter Square, then Fr. Thomas as a first-year graduate student priest in 1989.

WHAT HE MISSES MOST

Bishop Thomas can easily identify what he misses the most about Rome: the people . While Rome is a large, bustling city, Bishop Thomas describes establishing friendships with shop owners, for example, a couple who ran a coffee shop or a gentleman who owned a framing shop “Everything is relational; that’s part of the fabric of Italy,” he explained The religious sisters, Figlie di San Giussepe (Daughters of St Joseph), became good friends with Bishop Thomas during his time in Rome In addition to being the sacristans for St Peter’s Basilica, the sisters make liturgical vesture Upon returning to Rome, he always tries to make time for a visit to them In addition to his love of the locals, Bishop Thomas had the incredible opportunity to work with and befriend people from all over the world, including his coworkers in the Congregation for Bishops, priests and laity who also worked at the Vatican, and members of numerous religious congregations Among those were the Missionaries of Charity located at the Vatican, for whom he celebrated Mass every Thursday and served as their confessor.

Privileged to share a light moment during a visit in 1991 with Mother Teresa of Calcutta and other Missionaries of Charity.

Here's hoping this reminiscence of “Bishop Thomas’ Rome” might inspire your own pilgrimage or travel to Rome – either in person or through books, videos and the internet Ciao!