With thanks to Tom Lehrer.

First you get down on your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!
Do whatever steps you want, if
You have cleared them with the Pontiff.
Everybody say his own
Kyrie eleison,
Doin’ the Vatican Rag.

Get in line in that processional,
Step into that small confessional,
There, the guy who’s got religion’ll
Tell you if your sin’s original.
If it is, try playing it safer,
Drink the wine and chew the wafer,
Two, four, six, eight,
Time to transubstantiate!

So get down upon your knees,
Fiddle with your rosaries,
Bow your head with great respect,
And genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!

Make a cross on your abdomen,
When in Rome do like a Roman,
Ave Maria,
Gee it’s good to see ya,
Gettin’ ecstatic an’
Sorta dramatic an’
Doin’ the Vatican Rag!

There is so much to say about the purpose, values and effect of the Catholic Church. The phenomenonal wealth, the outdated dogma, the use of guilt and fear to secure control of followers, George Pell, widespread abuse of children and women… the list goes on and on.

Do we really need this anymore? Do we really believe the churches rules and regulations? Is this a club we can really afford to support any longer? Is it not just another example of rich and power hungry men exercising control over the poorest nations?

The Philippines is 97% Roman Catholic. That’s about 68 million Catholics, most of whom are as poor as a church mouse. They have nothing but the faith in their hearts. East Timorese, devoutly Catholic, but one of the poorest nations on earth. Tell me we got this right?

Having said that, today we spent the afternoon shuffling through the corridors, halls, galleries, and chapels of the richest country on Earth. The art collection is daunting, and the number of spectators is the same. The highlight of the shuffle being the Sistine Chapel failed to meet expectation, despite the fact that it is probably the most remarkable artistic undertaking in history. Sadly the time is just not available to sit and ponder this massive work.

Hot, tired and hungry, like the majority of the worlds Catholics, we headed straight to the nearest Trattorria for lunch and a cold drink.

Metro back to our hotel at Termini for a wash and rest, and then a light dinner around the corner… our last meal in Rome.

In the morning our adventure reaches a conclusion. Flying to Singapore then on to Melbourne to be with Mum, Tiger and Oscar.