The Derro family of Sudbury is on an Italian vacation the likes of which they never could have imagined before setting off.
Local Booster Juice franchise owners Dean and Diana Derro and their college-age daughters, Alyssa and Ava, took the trip to visit relatives in Carpineto, Romano, but took the occasion to visit several other famous Italian destinations.
Or, as Ava Derro put it to Sudbury.com, they found themselves with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Over the past 48 hours, we have experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we feel could enlighten the Catholic community of Sudbury,” she said. “What was originally a planned trip to The Vatican booked several months ago, turned into an unpredictable and priceless journey.”
With the death of Pope Francis, “we were incredibly saddened and weren’t sure what our trip to Vatican City would look like. Although the tours had been cancelled due to the Sistine Chapel being used for the Conclave, this did not ruin our plans, instead it was a blessing in disguise,” Derro said.
On the morning of May 7, the Derro family headed to Vatican City early in the morning, hoping to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. Not only did they get a chance to visit the famous church, they were treated to something few others can say they’ve experienced.
“It was once we arrived that the members of the church invited us to join them for the Pre-Conclave mass, which all of the Cardinals took part in,” Derro said. “This in itself was a life-changing experience, something we never could have planned in advance.”
Derro said participating in the special mass wasn’t the only highlight of their trip to Rome — they were still in the city when white smoke fluttered from the Sistine Chapel signalling a pope had been chosen.
“My family RAN to the Vatican as fast as we could,” she said. “While on our way, the streets were flooded with people running and cheering to go and see the new pope. Everybody was so enlightened, enthusiastic and happy; the energy was infectious and like nothing we have ever experienced before.”
Before long, the Derros found themselves standing before the red curtains of the basilica hoping to catch a glimpse of the new pope. And in short order, he appeared.
“There he was, Pope Leo XIV, speaking for the first time in his newly elected position,” Derro said. “He delivered an incredibly emotional speech, leading the crowd of thousands in prayer. I never would have imagined that I would be saying the Hail Mary (Ave Maria) with the pope, but there we were.”
The family is still on their vacation in Italy, but it’s likely the rest of the trip will pale in comparison to the experience they shared at Vatican City on May 7-8.