Porters arose in the ancient Church—the Ecclesia quinque saeculis, the period liturgists canonize as the Church’s golden age—in order to protect the Church. Does the Church today have “porters?” In some sense, yes. Since my time there, I also understand the Bergoglio pontificate introduced something akin to a fee for “reserved time” visitor entry to St. Peter’s. So, unlike my first walk into St. Peter’s Basilica in June 1989, there are more gatekeepers these days. Even porters who get you through the door faster at an appointed time for your contribution to the Vatican’s deficit.