Security at the Vatican was so intense yesterday that it was impossible to get anywhere near St. Peter’s Square.

Every access point was blocked by armed guards and trucks. Police were out in force on all the streets leading to Vatican City and there were even police boats cruising the Tiber River.

What’s going on? It’s impossible to say. Either some kind of credible threat was received or there was a gathering of dignitaries at the Vatican that required extra tight security.

What an age we live in! Violence and threats of violence have become so customary that we simply shrug our shoulders and continue with our daily business as best we can.

As Pope Francis said on Sunday:

Our heavenly Father always listens to his children who cry out to him in pain and anguish,” he said, and made a “heartfelt appeal” for each one of us to “hear this cry and, each one according to their own conscience, before God, ask ourselves: 'What can I do to make peace?'”

While prayer is always an effective resolution, more can be done, Francis said, explaining that each person “can concretely say no to violence to the extent that it depends on him or herself. Because victories obtained with violence are false victories, while working for peace does good for all!”

It’s easy to get frustrated, even angry, at the inconveniences caused by such intense security, but thank God for the men and women who risk their own lives protecting us. Because of Vatican security, no one drove a truck loaded with explosives into a crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square yesterday. It’s a real shame that it has to be this way, but given the world we live in, it’s a blessing that yesterday at least we were safe and violence free.

Here’s an account from Rome Reports which may explain yesterday’s heavy security:

Pope Francis met in the Vatican with the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The meeting was proposed by the Turkish president, following Donald Trump announcing his intent to move the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, an act that would exacerbate religious tension in the city.

The Holy Father and his guest held a private encounter for nearly 50 minutes, while these meetings rarely exceed a half hour.

Pope Francis and Erdogan discussed bilateral relations between the two states, the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the Catholic community's current situation in Turkey and the conflict between Jerusalem and Palestine.

Relations between the Vatican and Turkey have had their ups and downs. Pope Francis' public condemnation of Turkey's genocide of Armenians in 1915 seemed to unsettle the current Turkish leader.

Benedict XVI's comments on Islam in his Ratisbona address in 2006 didn't sit well either.

Following an extended dialogue, Pope Francis met with the president's wife and his daughter, Ezra. Then, they exchanged gifts. The president presented the pope with a hand-made ceramic image containing Istanbul's landmarks as well as four books by Persian poet Rumi. 

“Beautiful, beautiful.”

Pope Francis gave the president a medal with an angel.

He also presented him with an etching of St. Peter's Basilica and a copy of his Laudato si' encyclical along with his message for the World Day of Peace.

Before bidding farewell, the pope asked Erdogan's wife to pray for him.