Many people call many experiences humbling, but Bob Clausen says theres simply no other way to describe meeting the Pope.

Long-time Marco Islander Clausen had the honor during a recent trip to Italy with his brother Bill, a lifelong Rockford, Ill. priest who invited him along to a health care conference at the Vatican in Rome.

I had never been to Italy before, said Clausen, who indeed lived all over Central America and the Caribbean selling Marco Island for the Deltona Company in the early days of the islands development. So rather than only a conference, it was also a pilgrimage.

On top of that, the journey was bittersweet for Clausen because his brother suffers from Alzheimers, and needs help getting around in his wheelchair.

It was the closest Ive been to my brother for any time in 40 years, said Clausen, a family man with two adult children, Ian and Catherine, and a Scottish-born wife, Rosina.

He was good to work with. The disease is so debilitating. But, we had a lot of laughs together. Hes still got his good humor.

The healthcare conference was less scientific than spiritual, Clausen said, and fitted with his brothers ongoing calling of helping people with addictions back home. Hes so far attended two dozen of the conferences.

The brothers spent three days in Florence before heading for Rome and the Vatican. Coincidentally, Clausen said, the conference was on neuro degenerative diseases.

Bill knew everybody, Clausen said. In the past, he had been a presenter and a participant. One year, Mother Theresa was in the audience, and she came up to him afterward to tell him how much she enjoyed his talk.

The meeting with the Pope came on the last day of the conference.

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Papal audience