Author - Velehrad

On Wednesday 2.9. after half a year, a general audience was held again, in which we also participated. It took place in the main courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, bearing the name of the Holy Pope Damasus (305-384). We climbed this square up the stairs to the level of the 2nd floor. Here begin the official visits of state officials, ambassadors, bishops coming ad limina apostolorum, and pass through here participants of special papal audiences held in one of the halls of the Apostolic Palace. Every year, on May 6, new recruits from the Swiss Guard take the oath here.

Pope Francis arrived in the square in a car and immediately walked among the believers present, of whom there were a few hundred - equipped with mask - to greet them from a distance of 2 meters. General audiences should take place again every Wednesday.

After a month's break, life returns to Velehrad under strict hygienic measures. We used the time to buy flowers and plant pots in front of building C. The garden and fence around it will also help to create a pleasant environment. The remaining work in the house and on the recuperation system was completed. In order for the technical equipment on the terrace not to spoil the view of the house, the technicians installed railings around the terrace, the final form of which will be completed. We believe that the gradual decline of the coronavirus pandemic will open up opportunities for travel and the opportunity to open the doors of Velehrad to guests.

The unexpected invasion of coronavirus into Italy halted work on Building C just before completion. We managed to install a sliding wall between the hall and the chapel. Both spaces are waiting for the electrical installation to be completed. The carpenter Mr. Slezák from Zlín was able to arrive at Velehrad. He installed a table for the reception, finished some pieces of furniture and, together with Fr. Hynek, installed headboards in the rooms. The overall atmosphere of the rooms was completed by hanging pictures - photographs of mosaics by P. Rupnik SJ.

Thanks to the great commitment of the construction company Impresa Paolantoni, the residential premises of the house were completed by mid-February. The rooms were tidy and furnished to accommodate new guests. Heating and hot water were put into operation. Work continues intensively in the hall, where everything is ready for the assembly of a sliding wall that will separate the chapel from the hall with the reception. The gardening firm ARAVERDE carved overgrown trees and cleaned the greenery behind the house, where roses and several ornamental shrubs would be planted.

Building C has already been finalized. The courtyard is newly paved and the rooms are partly furnished with original furniture and new rooms have been added to several rooms. Both exterior and interior lights are being completed. Intensive work takes place in the future chapel and in the hall, which will be separated by a sliding wall. The next step will be equipment of the new reception in the hall and the transfer of all systems to the new premises.