Being in Rome, I could not find a better way to celebrate Christmas than with the Holy Father. The celebration at the North American College began with a delicious Christmas Eve dinner. Unfortunately, dinner had to be fast in order to prepare for Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. I volunteered with some other seminarians as part of the people's choir. If you had the opportunity to follow the Mass on TV, every time you heard the responses of the congregation, we were the ones with the microphones. Thanks to this, I had the opportunity to be a few feet away from the altar. My words cannot express the joy I felt. Perhaps you wonder if I saw when the Holy Father was knocked down. The answer is no, although I heard the commotion, my position on the opposite side of the Altar prevented me from seeing what was happening.

On Christmas Day I got up early in the morning to attend Mass in our chappel. After Mass, I joined the pilgrims at St Peter's Square for the Urbi et Orbi blessing.