Rome: The Eve of Conclave

Written By Justin Merriman

A man walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Monday afternoon, the eve of the start of the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.
Canadian Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican, after the cardinals' final general congregation.
 Canadian Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins is surrounded by police and security as he walks through St Peter's Square
German cardinal Walter Kasper walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican, after the cardinals' final general congregation meeting on Monday afternoon, the eve of the start of the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.
 Nigerian cardinal John Onaiyekan walks through St Peter's Square
Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican

 Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet walks through St Peter's Square at the Vatican
 Nuns from Mexico walk through St Peter's Square at the Vatican on the eve of the start of the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.
A man reads the newspaper in St Peter's Square.
Justin Merriman

Justin Merriman is a freelance photojournalist, commercial photographer, licensed drone pilot, and filmmaker based in Pittsburgh. His career began in Southwestern Pennsylvania, where he worked as a newspaper photographer dedicated to community storytelling and politics. Since then, his work has been recognized with regional, national, and international awards and has appeared in publications around the world.

After covering the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001, Merriman committed to documenting the U.S. military’s War on Terror, reporting from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and across the United States. His international assignments have also included life in Fidel Castro’s Cuba, India’s campaign to eradicate polio, the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba in 2012, the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis in Rome, the second anniversary of Egypt’s revolution, Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, and the uncertain future of Guantanamo Bay in 2015. That same year, he traveled the full U.S.–Mexico border to document immigration issues.

In addition to photography, Merriman works as a director and filmmaker, creating recent films on refugees in Turkey, Jordan, India, and South Africa.

Closer to home, he frequently covers stories across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, focusing on the intersections of economic, environmental, and political life. Most recently, he reported on the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and its impact on the community.

Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Merriman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg with a B.A. in English Writing. In 2009, the university awarded him its prestigious Alumnus of Distinction award. He is a founding member of Argo Collective, a group of photographers sharing diverse visions of America. He lives outside Pittsburgh with his wife, Stephanie Strasburg, a photojournalist with PublicSource.

http://www.justinmerriman.com
Previous

Rome: Conclave Nears
Next

Rome: Duquesne University Rome