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Welsh tourists' 'unique' trips after Pope's death

Rhodri Llywelyn
Newyddion S4C
Reporting fromVatican City
BBC A family of five smiling at the camera. A woman and a man in the back row, the woman has blonde hair and blue eyes and is wearing a yellow top with white spots, the man has short dark blonde hair and blue eyes and is wearing a light grey top and has red sunglasses. In front of him are two girls, both with blonde ponytails and blue eyes, one in a black t-shirt and another in a blue and white sleeveless top. The smallest child is a boy with blue eyes who is wearing a green, yellow and red bucket hat with a Wales flag on the frontBBC
The Jones family's holiday has been different than expected after Pope Francis' death

In a sea of pilgrims and tourists in Vatican City, a Welsh football supporter's bucket hat catches the eye.

The Jones family from Llanbrynmair, Powys, arrived in Rome on Monday - their family holiday unexpectedly coinciding with a moment of history.

"All of this is foreign to us," explained Owain, standing alongside wife Rhian and their three children Elsi, Ffion and Gruff, his red, yellow and green hat providing welcome shade from the spring sunshine.

"We don't know what to expect next but it's all very interesting, colourful."

The family's accommodation in Vatican City - the smallest independent state in the world, surrounded completely by Rome - is only a short walk to St Peter's Square.

They arrived bright and early on Wednesday morning to see Pope Francis' open casket being moved to lie in state following his death on Monday.

"Everyone was very quiet until the Pope came around the corner and everyone clapped and paid respect," said Rhian.

"There are so many people here from all over the world. Different countries, different languages... it was quite an experience."

Dylan has brown hair and blue eyes and is wearing a black t-shirt with sunglasses folded on the collar and a rucksack. Megan has brown hair and brown eyes and is wearing a white t-shirt with the Levi's logo on. Crowds of people can be seen in the background.
Dylan and Megan are on their honeymoon in Rome

Another Welsh couple, Dylan and Megan from Cardiff, got married last weekend and decided on the Eternal City for their honeymoon.

"It's been manic and not what we expected," Dylan explained, before adding they "feel very privileged to be here".

Megan, head of history at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, will return to her Welsh language school in Caerphilly county on Monday with stories of an "extraordinary few days".

The newlyweds queued to see Pope Francis' open coffin at St Peter's Basilica, which Megan said was a "fantastic experience".

She said: "It's been positive and happy. People are here celebrating Pope Francis' life.

"Not everyone can say that they've been to Rome when the Pope has died."

Fr Matt Roche-Saunders, director of priestly vocations and youth mission in the archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, travelled to Rome with a group of young people for this weekend's Jubilee of Teenagers.

The event will still take place, the Vatican announced, despite the Pope's death.

"It's so providential," said Fr Roche-Saunders.

"There's something about God's hand at work here to bring together the world of young people which Pope Francis had such a heart for."

The Prince of Wales and President Trump are expected to be among 250,000 people present for the Pontiff's funeral on Saturday.

Gari Wyn Williams Gari, a bald man in a grey coat smiling at a camera in front of an ancient monument lit up at night. Backlit pillars can be seen in the background with a large arch to the left. Gari Wyn Williams
Photographer Gari Wyn Williams took many photos of Pope Francis

Photographer Gari Wyn Williams, from Deiniolen, Gwynedd, has lived in Rome for the past 25 years and taken Pope Francis' photo on many occasions.

"I was here for the funeral of John Paul II when he died, and it's an amazing occasion," he said.

He added Pope Francis was "such a jolly man and loved by everyone".

"He loved being in the middle of the people. When he was whizzing about on his Popemobile he would wave, and the smile was genuine.

"He was close to the poor, the needy, and also to the young people. He always had time for everybody. People appreciated that.

"He was the people's Pope".