I just returned from the pontifical mass in the Kidron Valley. Seven hours: one to get from the École to my seat, three hours of waiting in the sun, two hours of the mass, one hour returning. While waiting, I read a few psalms in Hebrew and half the Sermon on the Mount in Greek. I was able to concelebrate and distribute communion. The introduction by the Latin Patriarch, Fouad Twal, and the homily by Pope Benedict were in English. The rest, except for the intercessions, were in Arabic and Latin, with most of the responses in Arabic. The single most glorious public proclamation of scripture I have ever heard (Col 3:1–4), even though I didn’t understand it because it was chanted in Arabic. Makes me want to learn Arabic so that I can sing like that. The Arab Catholic Scout bagpipe and drums played at the beginning and end (there are several links to YouTube videos there). Half the streets in Jerusalem have been shut down yesterday and today during the Pope’s visit. On the whole, I though the Israeli police did a very good job of organizing security. I had to pass through five checkpoints, including a metal detector, showing my ticket at each stage and a few times my passport, but everything was very orderly and smooth.

And I got a cool hat in the deal.