Handwritten letter from Delia Kiernan (Murphy) to
Kathleen O'Connell (Dublin)

My dear Kathleen,
We are here safe and sound after a lot of ups & downs in three different planes.

Rome is lovely & everyone here is on intimate terms with the Almighty. They stroll around the churches on Sundays – armed with two chairs as a rule – and don't take the least notice of the priest who is trying to preach a sermon. I'd like to see them doing that down in the Co. Mayo!

It was a great thrill having an audience with the Holy Father. We were greatly impressed by his modesty & sanctity. He talked to us about everything and kept us for half an hour. Mac.¹ has already written about the official things I'm sure, but now I want to tell you the bit that concerns you. Just before we left he said 'I want now to give you a very special blessing for yourselves and for all your relatives and friends in Ireland I give a very special blessing also'. Amongst the friends in Ireland I count you and so that blessing includes you.

The Irish Colony here at present is made up of priests and nuns, so our time is spent pleasantly and usefully & I should add profitably, visiting the clergy & nuns and learning the language. We are all becoming very fluent Italian speakers, but Blon (the eldest) is having a tough time doing her first Medical lectures in the Royal University of Rome through Italian! Colm is going to the Christian Brothers & Nuala & Orla are going to the Irish nuns, so you see we are settling down very well.

I hope you will have this letter before Dec. 25th as I want to wish you all the best of everything for Xmas & the New Year.