Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Papal pop-by at Roman eyewear shop draws an enthusiastic crowd

Papal pop-by at Roman eyewear shop draws an enthusiastic crowd

Last updated on: September 3, 2015 at 9:49 pm by CNA Daily News

Papal pop-by at Roman eyewear shop draws an enthusiastic crowd 2015-09-03T21:49:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Sep 3, 2015 / 03:49 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Even the most ho-hum errands become extraordinary if it’s the Pope who’s running them.

And it is no different for Pope Francis, who popped in to his eye doctor on Thursday to get some new lenses and attracted a mob of onlookers in a matter of minutes.

Pope Francis visits shop in Via del Babuino and tries new glasses pic.twitter.com/TGihuph5ST

— Lorenzo Totaro (@ltotaro) September 3, 2015

The Pope rolled up in his blue Ford Focus to the optometry shop, Ottica Spiezia, located along the posh Via del Babuino, the evening of Sept. 3 accompanied by a modest entourage of security guards, a witness told the Associated Press.

Even though Francis’ appointment lasted less than an hour, enthusiastic onlookers streetside scrambled to snap photos and inundate Twitter with the news that they were witnessing the Pope running an errand outside the Vatican walls.

After about 40 minutes, the Pope opened the door and briefly greeted the crowd before heading back to the Vatican.

Shop owner Alessandro Spiezia said he was surprised by the papal pop-by, since he had offered to come to the Vatican to refill the prescription himself.

"I was supposed to go to the Vatican yesterday to bring them, but the Pope told his secretary, 'No, I don't want Spiezia to come here, I'll go to Via del Babuino,'" Spiezia told the AP.

Spiezia supplied Francis’ frames last year, who liked them so much he decided to be a repeat customer.

#PopeFrancis reportedly stops into #Rome optician's shop to try on some glasses. http://t.co/jBF6ZDzqcO (Photo: ANSA) pic.twitter.com/cwSxgmqnC0

— Alan Holdren (@AlanHoldren) September 3, 2015

Spotting the Holy Father outside the Vatican but in Rome is rare, largely for security reasons, a fact that Pope Francis himself has lamented. As a cardinal in Buenos Aires, he took public transportation almost every day.

Soehe, a young German tourist visiting Rome with his father, told the AP he was excited to spot the Pope at the eye glasses shop, especially after he waited for four hours earlier in the day to climb to the top of St. Peter's Basilica, to no avail.

"There were too many people, and also the president of Israel was visiting and there were so many police officers, so it was too much for us and we went back to the hotel," Soehe said.

"I told my father, 'Hey, that was better than going to St. Peter's dome: Seeing the Pope in a shop trying on new glasses.'"

#PopeFrancis doesn't often wear glasses. In public, only when he reads a text. @angelambrogetti saw these on his desk pic.twitter.com/WIoGR4VsSs

— Alan Holdren (@AlanHoldren) September 3, 2015

Europe

Previous Post

September 3, 2015

Strong words from the Vatican as migrant crisis spikes worldwide

Next Post

September 3, 2015 Trump's immigration plan undermines American identity, Archbishop Chaput says

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE