A few follow-up papal postings. I miss having Pope Benedict here. What an amazing week.
Great WA Post article, A Lunch With Devotion, by Franco Nuchese of Cafe Milano. Nuchese was chosen to prepare lunch for Pope Benedict and 20 cardinals and archbishops. "So I directed my energies into putting together a once-in-a-lifetime event. Creating the perfect meal in a memorable moment is my craft, much like an artist creates a painting." Italians do know how to dine. Hat tip to The Anchoress.
Andrew Bostum compares and contrasts Pope Benedict's attitudes and writings on Jews and Judaism with those of Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, the current Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. Tantawi is as close as you're gonna get to an Muslim Pope. To put it mildly, the differences are huge. Tantawi’s Ph.D. thesis, Banu Israil fi al-Quran wa-al-Sunnah (Jews in the Koran and the Traditions), published in 1968-69, provides numerous examples of anti-Semitic writings found in the Koran. Tantawi doesn't refute any of it, and in fact, he has continued to make rather vile utterances about Jewish people.
"Tantawi’s case illustrates the prevalence and depth of Jew-hatred in the contemporary Muslim world. Tantawi embodies how such hatred remains firmly rooted in mainstream, orthodox Islamic teachings, not some aberrant 'radical Islam.' ”
"Indeed, the modern pronouncements and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church — personified by the words and actions of Pope Benedict XVI — stand in stark relief."
Patricia Rice wrote a very moving article about the Pope's meeting with five people from Boston who were victims of the sexual abuse by priests.
The Anchoress wrote a thoughtful piece at Pajamas Media that starts with the Pope's solemn visit to Ground Zero, and she reflects about what this holy man showed us and did for us this past week:
"For six days we watched and listened; we came to know Benedict as a cerebral and soft-spoken man whose body language was endearingly awkward and whose pen seemingly never rested. He is warmer than we expected, and he is braver than we knew. Overwhelmingly, though, Benedict is gentle and exceedingly, edifyingly humble. He is a Supreme Shepherd' but one who allows himself to be led, and ever led, by the Divine one."
Finally, Rocco of Whispers in the Loggia wrote this a few days ago:
These have been amazing days, friends, and in that moment by the fountain it became clear that, as in a miracle, the tide had, at long last, begun to turn.
His own energy-level at an apex unequaled over his three-year reign, Papa Ratzi might be heading home tonight... but, church, our work is just beginning.
It's been said before but bears repeating: "the Holy Spirit is ready -- but the answer depends on us."
It's the call of our time, and the work of renewal is already underway in our midst. But it can only happen if each of us go "all in."
Gratefully, it's not a question of programs, budgets, committees or technologies. All it takes is just one word -- YES.
It's time, gang -- our time.
All in, all together, let's get to it.
I'm so there.
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