The Man in the White Cassock and Matching Zucchetto

**Hi friends. Guess who will joining us for the Dublin portion of our trip?**

(text received)

My mind raced with the possibilities. Maybe our friend from high school who lives in Ireland? Maybe my friend's mom (who is the greatest) would be meeting us there for a few days? Derek Jeter? (as suggested hopefully, by another friend in the chat)

Honestly, I could not wait for her answer.

I had a strong hunch it was going to be Snooki from Jersey Shore. I don't know why, but I felt it in my bones. That particular friend and I tend to bond over our love for the little meatball, so I just knew that Snooki would be the answer.

I was quickly removed from my amazing daydream of possibilities when the subsequent text revealed that instead, the Pope would be coming to Dublin, Ireland whilst we're there!!!!!!!!!

Not Snooki.

Not Rihanna dressed as the Pope.

( Kind of unfortunately )

The real deal.

Da Popa!

(amazing gif utilized by friend to break the news)

My initial reaction matched the happiness of the adorable gif. I love the guy! I am Catholic. I carry a pocket picture with a prayer of the man daily. He is literally one of my idols on Facebook.

I mean, it's the Pope! In Ireland! While we're there!

Hashtag lucky!

---

Update:

Just kidding. I went to check, so as not to be a liar in a blog post about the Pope... and it seems that I have not "liked" him on Facebook. Yet.

However, you can see that my allegiances, chosen back when I made my account, are heavy hitters as well:

---

ANYWAY - immediately after the joyous feeling of potentially seeing The Big Man walk the same cobble stone streets of Dublin .... reality set in.

Reality: EVERYONE IS GOING TO FLOCK TO DUBLIN ON THE DAYS THAT THE POPE IS THERE... AND COINCIDENTLY, THE DAYS WE'RE IN DUBLIN, TOO.

AND I MEAN EVERYONE.

If you dial back to one of my favorite travel anecdotes - That Time Garth Let Down An Entire Country - you'll remember that people in Ireland are serious about their visitors. They take pride in hosting big names like Britney Spears (also in concert while we're there), Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, and the Pope.

The businesses rally around the guest and create memorabilia that commemorates the occasion.

And mass produce the stuff tenfold.

It was bad for Garth, so I can only imagine if Pope Francis cancels!

Can Popes cancel?

Are they allowed diva moments?

I think it is against the law. Or the Bible.

Or both.

Anyway, the moral is: it is going to be PACKED.

Another friend in the group text summed it up best: "I just hope he doesn't book his Guinness Factory tour at the same time as us."

Because I feel like the Pope will get all the beers.

"Here you go, your Holiness!, You go, Your Holiness."

And none for Gretchen Weiners. Bye.

(us, not getting any Guinness)

... though, I feel like he's more of a wine man.

Here's to hoping.

skål xx