- for an unexpected zing” , the commercial says. I bet that even the Pepsi Co. Inc didn’t predict WHAT unexpected ZING…… Pepsi Twist is my drink from now on!!!!!!



A scene from the JP-II film was shown on Norwegian TV this afternoon, it was the assassination attempt on JP-II. Very dramatic and well performed. I hope the link works. Wind forwards to 30 min, 20 sec. ( or else you get 30 min. news in norwegian) The video-clip is about 2 min. long, and as a bonus, not an insignificant one, you’ll see Papa arriving at “the movies”.

mms://straumod.nrk.no/Nyheter/Dagsrevyen/2006-04-01/L_rdagsrevyen_01_04_06_300_156445_20060401_185900.wmv?WmThinning=0&WmBitrate=1800000&WMCache=1

[Modificato da lutheranguest 02/04/2006 1.45]

[Modificato da lutheranguest 02/04/2006 1.46]

LUTHERANGUEST,

Thanks for the link to the JPII movie. The attempted assassination scene is very dramatic and realistic. When I saw the Yahoo photo of Papa's face as he watched that film, I wondered whether that was the scene he was reacting to. He looked horror-stricken and had his hand over his mouth, almost as if he were nauseated. Besides being appalled by the violence and feeling compassion for John Paul, he could not help but see himself in that scene. John Paul is shown in the popemobile waving to the cheering, smiling crowd, picking up and kissing babies--just as Papa does every week--and then, gunshots. I would imagine the movie disturbed Papa greatly and reminded him, like a blow to the stomach, of how much of a target he is and how vulnerable to the whims of all sorts of cruel persons intent on harming him. I hope that the film strengthened the resolve of the people responsible for Papa's security to be even more vigilant and protective of him.

[Modificato da benefan 02/04/2006 4.10]

Thank you for that link Lutheranguest... looks like a powerful movie. Benefan you summed up what I was wondering when I first saw that picture and then saw the clip. As a nurse, I've made a career of taking care of people... I must admit when I see Papa going into a crowd in the popemobile, I am more than a little concerned. But I also know that God loves Papa very, very much and JP2 and all of Papa's beloved departed are up in Heaven watching out for him. Sometimes that is enough to take the edge off. and sometimes it's not

check out new Vaticanisti blog...made by priest from New Jersey

Shouts in the Piazza

some comments on photos are really funny, and this article
http://shoutsinthepiazza.blogspot.com/2006/03/cambio.html
is interesting too

Yup, Maklara...In fact, yesterday, I used one of the photos with a clever caption (the one with Marini) in the thread REFLECTIONS ON THE FAITH...

thanks lutheranguest for the vid!

I'm haunted by the killing of baby Tommaso Onofri, who it turns out now, was killed by hitting him in the face with a spade! I wish the Pope's homily today - although it is a Mass for the late John Paul - can somehow touch on the subject of senseless violence. What does a man of God say to the parents, to the killers, to the faithful, to atheists who would say "Now where is your God?" Because the same message will apply to the terrorist killings and all the contemporary examples of senseless violence.

Yesterday I participated in debate with cardinal Vlk (archbishop of Prague) so I want to share shortly few points I remember. The disscusion was about actual issues of particular and universal catholic church, remembering of course anniversary of JP2.

1. Cardinal Ratzinger was considered the best person to follow long pontificate of JP2. The fact was, cardinals didn't speculate about pope's nation (prefering of italians is history) during conclave.

2. First year was full of surprises...the main surprise was quick change of 78 years old professor to new role of universal pastor. (it could be tiring to read here all superlatives which cardinal used). Papa is more and more good in communication with crowds, still a bit shy but in lovely way.

3. Genial idea how to use the fact that all cardinals are present on consistory and invite them a day before the ceremony to 'pray' and 'reflect'. Papa sat whole day with cardinals listening to them and making notes. He also spoke without papers (in contrary to JP2) and he encouraged free disscusion.


Cardinal Vlk describe us how he told pope during his private audience that next year he will celebrate 75, so he hope Benedict will retired him. As a answer Papa smiled and made gesture, without any word pointed on himself as if he say: "And what I. I am almost 79 and not retired."

[Modificato da Maklara 03/04/2006 22.07]

thanks maklara!! its always nice to read firsthand accounts like that..oh,Papa is so brilliant!!

btw,is it true that Papa B now has a cat named Scherzo?
www.whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com

MAKLARA - THANKS FOR THE FIRSTHAND NEWS FROM YOUR CARDINAL! I LOVE THE LAST ANECDOTE ABOUT AGE! Very heartwarming! By the way, how do you pronounce his last name?

GRACE - About Rocco's scoop, he cites a report from his paper, the Tablet, so you can take their word or not. As the report appears in a Tablet feature which is not available online, we can't check out the item itself. But there must be some truth to it, otherwise they wouldn't have bothered to report it. I certainly hope it is true. It's a very sweet story, and apparently in character with all we have read so far about Papa and cats! By the way, SCHERZO means "joke".

And I still don't understand why the Pope cannot keep pets in the Papal apartments! And yet, Pius XII was supposed to have kept canaries, and a cat was mentioned for Paul VI.

[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 03/04/2006 23.55]

THE CAT

If Papa does have a cat, that would explain the scratches on his forearm that someone pointed out in a photo recently; however, if he can't bear to be parted from it, I doubt he would stash it at his old apartment. Apparently, he was only going over there late last fall and in Dec. when things like his books were still being moved to his Vatican apartment. Since he is not going over there now, he would never see the cat. If he is going to get a pet, I wish he would get one that's not going to claw him up.

MARINI

Rocco has noticed that Archbishop Marini was at Papa's Mass today. He appeared in one of Yahoo's photos of Papa. Even if Marini did have angioplasty, the recovery time on that is very short so it is possible he had that kind of procedure and is back at work. However, recently several new aides were hired for papal ceremonies, perhaps to allow Marini some time off or to do some of his work. He probably has known about any heart condition for a while.

@ Teresa: "And I still don't understand why the Pope cannot keep pets in the Papal apartments!"

Benefan: I believe Rocco's story about the cat mentions it was hanging from brocade curtains in the papal apartment. That's one reason. I recently saw a brief video (perhaps on this forum??) of some cat that went totally beserk and started tearing around all over the place, finally biting the man trying to calm it. My sister, a serious cat lover, says things like that can happen quite often with kitties. Living in a museum like the Vatican with all sorts of priceless stuff probably makes it very, very difficult to harbor animals no matter how domesticated they might appear. And then there were the scratches on Papa's arm....

Rocco just edited that *cat* blog..says its a joke(april fools)

JOKE???


Does Rocco know that April Fool's is on April 1st, last Saturday??? Somebody send the boy a calendar.

...Ohhhhhh, His poor Mamma!!! I pray that she remembers that God never promised us an easy life on Earth but a reward in Heaven and that her precious baby boy is with Jesus and Our Lady...

Oh, it was just a joke ??? The imagination of Papa having a cat was so cute. I don't understand why Papa can't have a cat or any other pet with him in his apartment. I mean, okay, if the cat would hanging into precious courtains while Papa holds a private audience in the "official" rooms of the apostolic palace .. (Funny to imagine ...)
But I think if he wants to have a cat into his private rooms there is no reason why he can't have one. Papa is the boss, no one has the right to forbid it.

---

...Ohhhhhh, His poor Mamma!!! I pray that she remembers that God never promised us an easy life on Earth but a reward in Heaven and that her precious baby boy is with Jesus and Our Lady...

---

It really hurts my heart. Those are sick people and I am sure that they will get their punishment.

I too am very saddened by the death of Tomaso Onofri. I chanced on a copy of 'OGGI' a couple of weeks back and it had the story in there, and then everyone was hopeful of a happy outcome. However, Tomaso's mother always said she had a 'bad feeling' about it and that he would never come home.

He was a very sick child, perhaps the kidnappers didn't know this. They sound totally heartless and callous. What a world we live in!

TERESA BENEDETTA: By the way, how do you pronounce his last name?

Maklara:
Some Czech words lack vowels completely. This feature is possible thanks to an ability of consonants r and l to create syllables.

There's nothing difficult about pronouncing "Vlk". You just realize that "l" can be extended to any length of the sound, much like a vowel. For example, say "lllllow" so that "ll" is prolonged. Then you can simply say "vlllllllk". It's like "vack" except that "a" is replaced by "l".

Btw, his last name makes lot of jokes (vlk = wolf) among flock of sheep - faithfuls... our shepherd's last name is "wolf".

[G][/G] I'm quite sad that the cat story seems to be an April fool joke.... A soft, furry little bundle nestling in his lap sometimes could be nurturing for him as well, not only for the kitty. And they say stroking an animal lowers the blood pressure. I agree - if he's boss, why not a cat? Can you imagine a scratching post in all the Apostolic Palace rooms, though.....? Hmmmm... perhaps not a very practical choice as a pet in those circumstances.

@ Mag6: "A soft, furry little bundle nestling in his lap sometimes could be nurturing for him.... And they say stroking an animal lowers the blood pressure."

Benefan: Mag6, you are right. I'm thinking of sending Papa a guinea pig for his birthday. They are soft, furry, inactive, and quiet, sort of like a Tribble from Star Trek. They don't bite, climb drapes, or claw popes. They are easy to feed, only grow to the size of small rabbits, like being petted, and whistle when hungry. A perfect pet, if someone else will clean up after them. They are a bit boring but some can be quite charming. Better than no pet at all or one that might shred famous wall hangings or a priceless Papa.