Speaking off the cuff--Benedict XVI

The more I see and hear of Benedict XVI, the more I like and appreciate him as Pope. I liked him as Cardinal, but he is really coming into his own.

I just read this newspiece describing how he has tossed aside prepared notes and spoken extemporaneously lately. (When it is necessary, however, he sticks to the script.)

It has apparently sent the Vatican Press Service into very fast recall mode, also! LOL. The rest of the article is good, also.

When the pope presided over a Mass in the Sistine Chapel to baptize 10 infants in early January, he was supposed to deliver a sermon presumably prepared by his staff. The text, released to journalists ahead of time, was nothing special. Maybe that's why the pope pitched it.

Instead, he stood beneath Michelangelo's fresco of the "Last Judgment," looked out at the small congregation of parents and relatives, and began, "Just what happens in baptism?" Then he extemporized on the topic for 16 minutes -- twice the length of his planned homily.

The Vatican press office, meanwhile, sent out an urgent disclaimer telling reporters to ignore the prepared text.


Related Tags: Catholic, Current events.