WASHINGTON — Maybe somebody at a higher level was looking out for them.
A bus of pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Miami left South Florida around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, eased onto Interstate 95 and then rolled north for more than 1,000 congestion-free miles, hitting nary a slowdown on a highway legendary for them.
They had two quick pit stops – no lingering dinners – and watched two movies. Some people slept; most found it hard to do so.
And by 5 a.m. Wednesday, the group was in Washington, staking out prime territory along Constitution Avenue. The South Lawn of the White House was in front of them, the Washington Monument behind. For the first group photo of the day, the sky was still dark.
And then they waited.
Pope Francis wouldn’t come for another six hours. The group of 46 people from the Archdiocese of Miami was nestled firmly behind the metal barricades that separated the masses from the pontiff’s route. They joked with the police officers protecting the route. They arranged their sign, “We Love You! Welcome Pope Francis.”
