Of busses and bishops

Being bussed around the city of Madrid and its environs was a unique experience.

For security purposes, we had a police escort wherever we went that - at least for the gatherings with the Pope - consisted of two police motorcycles in front, two on the side and two more following the busses.  For the gatherings without the Pope I think the escort was simply one police motorcycle both ahead of and behind the busses.

I have to admit, it was rather fun being escorted in this fashion and helped our travels greatly since we didn't stop at any stoplights.

If you're ever travelled with a large group in a foreign place, you may know that - even as they do at home - people tend to travel in small groups within the large groups.  Even bishops.

It struck me several days into the World Youth Day that whatever bus - generally there were two busses - Bishop Paprocki and I rode on also carried His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, and His Excellency the Most Reverend Clarence "Larry" Silve, Bishop of Honolulu.

I don't know that there's much meaning in this recurring coincidence, but it was interesting to notice.  I do know that neither Bishop Paprocki nor I planned it this way; we just hopped the bus that was usually the least full.