I’ve never had an assignment that was so frightening in that I had no idea what I
frightening in that I had no idea what I
frightening in that I had no idea what I was going to shoot
the biggest challenge to photographing
the biggest challenge to photographing the Vatican that I found was simply
the Vatican that I found was simply
the Vatican that I found was simply getting in there it’s like a gigantic
getting in there it’s like a gigantic
getting in there it’s like a gigantic curtain just to get behind this curtain
curtain just to get behind this curtain
curtain just to get behind this curtain takes weeks I had the idea to befriend
takes weeks I had the idea to befriend
takes weeks I had the idea to befriend the Pope’s personal photographer
the Pope’s personal photographer
the Pope’s personal photographer francesco sforza we pretty quickly
francesco sforza we pretty quickly
francesco sforza we pretty quickly developed a really really strong
developed a really really strong
developed a really really strong friendship the access from that point
friendship the access from that point
friendship the access from that point was was remarkable I could stand right
was was remarkable I could stand right
was was remarkable I could stand right beside him they’re always you know quite
beside him they’re always you know quite
beside him they’re always you know quite a few people around him I was able to
a few people around him I was able to
a few people around him I was able to get the proximity to really see the
get the proximity to really see the
get the proximity to really see the expressions on the faces of the pilgrims
expressions on the faces of the pilgrims
expressions on the faces of the pilgrims that really captivated me I personally
that really captivated me I personally
that really captivated me I personally can’t think of a world leader who is so
can’t think of a world leader who is so
can’t think of a world leader who is so frequently greeted and embraced and
frequently greeted and embraced and
frequently greeted and embraced and treated like a long-lost uncle once they
treated like a long-lost uncle once they
treated like a long-lost uncle once they got to know me and they trusted me then
got to know me and they trusted me then
got to know me and they trusted me then I was able to do things that even
I was able to do things that even
I was able to do things that even now–if seemed kind of unimaginable to
now–if seemed kind of unimaginable to
now–if seemed kind of unimaginable to work with in st. Peter’s Basilica and be
work with in st. Peter’s Basilica and be
work with in st. Peter’s Basilica and be able to walk around on the on the
able to walk around on the on the
able to walk around on the on the catwalk all the way around the top of
catwalk all the way around the top of
catwalk all the way around the top of the Basilica during a service where the
the Basilica during a service where the
the Basilica during a service where the Pope is down below I think it’s gonna
Pope is down below I think it’s gonna
Pope is down below I think it’s gonna feel surreal that I was able to witness
feel surreal that I was able to witness
feel surreal that I was able to witness those things and at the same time it’s
those things and at the same time it’s
those things and at the same time it’s been a really remarkably memorable
been a really remarkably memorable
been a really remarkably memorable experience it has been work it has not
experience it has been work it has not
experience it has been work it has not been what I would call a spiritual
been what I would call a spiritual
been what I would call a spiritual experience although being around Pope
experience although being around Pope
experience although being around Pope Francis in seeing in my opinion seeing
Francis in seeing in my opinion seeing
Francis in seeing in my opinion seeing how genuine a person he is as has been
how genuine a person he is as has been
how genuine a person he is as has been in many ways inspirational of course the
in many ways inspirational of course the
in many ways inspirational of course the picture that I think is really going to
picture that I think is really going to
picture that I think is really going to make the difference for me on this
make the difference for me on this
make the difference for me on this assignment came on Christmas Day
assignment came on Christmas Day
assignment came on Christmas Day Pope Francis was greeting a number of
Pope Francis was greeting a number of
Pope Francis was greeting a number of people and immediately afterward
people and immediately afterward
people and immediately afterward Francesco says to me in a whisper he’s
Francesco says to me in a whisper he’s
Francesco says to me in a whisper he’s going to the Sistine Chapel
going to the Sistine Chapel
going to the Sistine Chapel he goes in and he’s standing there for
he goes in and he’s standing there for
he goes in and he’s standing there for all of three or four seconds and then he
all of three or four seconds and then he
all of three or four seconds and then he leaves and have a hunch that that might
leaves and have a hunch that that might
leaves and have a hunch that that might have been his Christmas present to to me
have been his Christmas present to to me
have been his Christmas present to to me and Francesco he is in the process of I
and Francesco he is in the process of I
and Francesco he is in the process of I think clearly becoming an historical
think clearly becoming an historical
think clearly becoming an historical Pope I think that he is doing some
Pope I think that he is doing some
Pope I think that he is doing some things that it will be very difficult
things that it will be very difficult
things that it will be very difficult for future Pope’s to undo and in that
for future Pope’s to undo and in that
for future Pope’s to undo and in that way I think it’s a very compelling
way I think it’s a very compelling
way I think it’s a very compelling reason to do this story now
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