René Seifert - Entrepreneur & Global Citizen

There was no doubt that it would be an amazing experience, but Rome topped even the biggest expectations with its ubiquitious historical beauty.Here is the picture set on Flickr. It meant coming to the place which, as no other, has laid foundation to our cutural heritage as well as shaped the way of our western thinking. Both from the ancient history of the Roman Empire and well as in the aftermath of its collapse the rise of the Catholic Church. Visiting the Vatican with a savvy guide was more than a worthwhile investment given his vast insights into architecture, history and arts. Like here the Laocoon Group which made the start in a huge collection of statues, pictures and tapestries.

Moving slowly through the richness of the Vactican I contemplated about the usual and mostly simplistic critisizm of the current Pope “to be conservative”. In the first place, in my view “being conservative” is rather a virtue than a vice. Morover, what do you think if you are a Pope who is on top of both the oldest and the largest organization of the world, if your name indicates that there have been fifteen with the same name before you, if you are among the most brilliant intellectuals alive, if your belief is that your organization epitomizes the concept of truth and then some “progressive” journalist in some local newspaper calls you conservative: You simply don’t give a shit. And right so.

Which should not mean that the Catholic Church can’t ignore an environment which, also thanks to communication technology, is changing faster than ever. But reading the latest publications of Benedict XVI. like his encylce “Deus Caritas est”, the Pope displays are very real understanding of today’s world when he explains his e.g.model for separating of roles between the state and religion.

Here’s the famous Trevi Fountain in which you throw a coin over your back which allegedly will bring you back to Rome.

And me being and old fan of Latin Language wanted to see the Colosseum where my Latin textbook began with “Marcus hodie in Colosseum est”. I didn’t make it “in” the Colosseum, but at least in front of it. So I can confidently say: “René hodie ad Colosseum est.” (German translation: Renés Hoden sind am Colosseum” - LOL)

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One addition as I just came across Fabio’s (the guide’s) phone number in case you want to do the tour: +39 335 841 27 22 (kind regards from my side :-)