Friday, January 13, 2006

Benedict likes to ad-lib

CNS has an article on Benedict's recent homilies. Apparently, he has been throwing away his staff-prepared texts, and improvising incredible homilies. Take for instance his recent homily at a baptism:

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.


I seem to remember reading something about another pope who ad-libbed very well. . .

Yours in Christ,
Thursday

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