A queue in Swiss instead of Italian art

The nerves that they were blank with the two dozen journalists who were waiting in front of the Vatican press office. More precisely in front of the « Sala Stampa della Santa Sede »; The sonorous Italian name is simply too beautiful so as not to mention it. It was the day before Pope Francis was buried when I, like many colleagues, found myself early on St. Peter’s Square. But the press office only opened its doors at 8.30 a.m.; To pick up the necessary badges came to all the test for patience.

When the employees of the press office finally started their service, the impatience got even greater. Individual journalists prolonged themselves, others were stressed because they did not know whether their online accreditation had come through. Still others soon had to go live and had no time to take care of bureaucracy.

At some point a resolute Roman came in front of the crowd of journalists and explained how it would go on now – and that fluently in four languages ​​(whether she has Luxembourg’s roots?): Who had already received a confirmation email here. If you were still waiting for it, please. But the journalists were more likely to stick to their specifications. Finally, the Roman woman became Lauter and called: Please form a Swiss queue, no Italian!

The resolute appearance was successful; The press crowd smiled, but obeyed. Later I happened to hit the Roman on St. Peter’s Square and congratulated her on how well she had her colleagues under control. She told me that the Swiss Guard discipline inspired her to say. But unfortunately there is a problem: the longer the guards lived in Rome, the more Italian they would behave …