We’ve done our best to provide a reasonably comprehensive coverage of World Youth Day here at LP, in part because the News Limited papers, being major sponsors of the Pope fest, have studiously ignored most of the actual hard news, except to cast stones at those criticising the Church’s conduct on several justifiable grounds, in favour of happy-clappy stories about the happy-clappy pilgrims and general hagiography. As I commented earlier, the irony is that B16 himself is treated more like a pop star than a Pontiff on a mission, so in the interests of balance and fairness, if anyone’s actually interested in the full text of what the Pope had to say, you can read it here. As journalist and veteran Vatican watcher John L. Allen jr. observes, it’s classic Ratzinger.
37 Responses to “What Pope Benedict XVI actually said at World Youth Day”
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[As I commented earlier, the irony is that B16 himself is treated more like a pop star than a Pontiff on a mission]
As Ray Martin repeatedly mentioned during the SBS/SKY Telecast of today’s proceedings, which technically was full of picture breakups during the motorcade and even on the boat trip. I hope they manage to avoid these glitches during the Stations Of The Cross later on today.
Also, it is interesting to note that here on the West Coast, SBS are showing the coverage in delay, unlike the 86 Visit by JP 2 which from memory was both on the ABC and SBS, was live and commercial free, the ABC feed was even broadcast on Ch 7 here complete with ABC commentry and even 7 ran it ad free.
Back to what he actually said, I note Il Papa managed to out Rudd Kevin07 in Welcoming the pilgrims in their native language, and also the extensive use of Indigineous Rituals, which no doubt would’ve upset the likes of Akkermann and Bolt
It is not that Ratzinger is like a pop star; after all, Roman Catholicism was born with “pop stars”: Jesus Christ, the cult of the saints, etc. The issue is that pop stars are an irruption of paganism that has always been at the heart of Roman Catholicism.
Tellingly, it is the dour Presebyterian types - luvvies, feminazis - who are so angry at WYD. You would do well to consider the thoughts of Bob Verhey
More public transport, pedestrians wandering safely down a quiet George Street with cars and buses diverted, proposed draconian police powers put firmly in their place and (here’s the real miracle) smiling, polite teenagers. I lapsed long ago, but … hallelujah!
Robert Verhey Five Dock
Quite Luvvies. Quite.
How can it be that the most wondrous and sacred Sydney space - Barangaroo - has become a place of unutterable nonsense?
What I find disturbing, perhaps even offensive is the implication that if you don’t believe in God, you can’t really do good in the world. Yet, apart from Vinnies and like orgasations and/or some religious orders in the various churches/religions, the vast majority of people I’ve met trying to save the environment, deal with social/political ills etc, etc, have been determinedly non-religious. Maybe its just the company I keep.
I suspect so. Involvement of religious groups in protests against things like war in iraq, children in detention, freedom in Tibet, or lobbying for the disadvantaged in society is quite strong.
Good one, Paul Norton.
I also hate the attitude that only religious people can lead a good life. Talk about intolerance.
Paul,
It must be the company you keep in airy Armidale.
There are plenty of religious groups involved in all manner of social justice campaigns (anti-war, refugees, poverty, homelessness, etc, etc, etc). In the US you even have the Pastors For Peace who make annual pilgrimage (carrying medicine and other goods) to socialist Cuba, breaking US law in the process.
So the problem isn’t religion per se. It’s what people do with it that counts - some of the most radical, socially-minded people I’ve met are religious. Locally, it should be pointed out that, say, Bob Brown is a christian. To pick a great big obvious example internationally, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez is a devout Catholic. In fact, even Marx’s view on religion wasn’t as negative as people make out.
See for example: http://www.angelfire.com/or/sociologyshop/marxrel.html
And more in detail here: http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/subject/religion/
As for the Great Caped Crusader from Marktl-am-Inn, well he and his clappy cohorts are hell-bent on a global monopoly, so none of this is really very suprising.
Is Bob Brown really a Christian?
http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s1201238.htm
!
Wombo,
That’d be right. Apart from the Vinnies people I know, whom I really like and respect, and one or two other friends, most of my friends who are political activists either aren’t religiously inclined at all or are lapsed Catholics.
Incidentally, has anybody else noticed the piss-poor coverage of the Vinnies Social Justice concert in the MSM News last night? Aren’t they keen on letting the pilgrims know about homelessness and poverty here? Like scared they won’t come back or spread unflattering stories about OZ when they get back home.
Benedict the Whatever noticed in his speech the homeless aren’t with us at Barangaroo. (btw, if you know anything about the lady, this whole business would make her pretty upset, I think.)
Well, they’re weren’t with us, your Holiness,because Morris Iemma had them moved out of sight of the tourists and Cardinal Pell had them moved on from the precincts of St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Anyone harbouring any doubts about the basic nastiness of some Catholics, should have tuned in to Q&A last night where Angela Shanahan, as the token Catholic, achieved the amazing feat of making Alexander Downer look like a reasonable human being in comparison.
While I know that there are many Catholics who make a positive and generous contribution to our society, there is also a mindless sense of negativity and prejudice that pervades an element of the church, as exemplified by Shanahan (and Pell).
I agree Adrian. Downer came away looking half decent after that Angela Shanahan’s efforts. What really shits me with Q&A is that Tony Jones shuts it all down as soon as the debates start getting interesting. You could tell Marr really wanted to respond seriously to Downer’s “Howard was the best man eva!!1!” crap.
Tanner was classy but I’ve never been keen on that young Labor chick, Rose Jackson is it? From memory I think she was on that Difference of Opinion with all the yelling, hand gestures etc. with not much being said. Q&A could be so much better than presently constructed.
Yep this pope man has some form on the way of human life, coming from a background as a member of Hitlers youth, yer they say it was that, or a camp, or death. O my GOD.
Sorry folk but this man the pope has no real true faith or he would be dead long ago, and with his god, for not joining the Hitler youth. AMEN
Pathetic.
Thanks GregM. That comment really should be deleted on the grounds of an egregious violation of Godwin’s among other reasons!
I think the way that he is trying to move abortion into the same category as domestic violence is pretty smart. He’s busy making ‘non-violence’ into a new dog whistle for pregnancy enforcement. All the while, the media can move on painting a merry picture of the nice man in weird clothing being showered with love.
Just how seriously ignorant are these people about the mechanics of conception and childbirth? About the percentage of naturally unviable fertilisation? There are plenty of creatures roaming the planet with far better methods of conception and foetal rearing, yet somehow by interfering with what is naturally a horrifyingly hit and miss, potentially dangerous system like mammalian pregnancy and birth, we made it worse? All because some “just so” story in his bible decrees that women must undergo painful childbirth ’cause Eve screwed up with the tree of knowledge?
It’s pretty clear to me that these guys don’t need drugs for a psychadelic experience. That must be some hot-shit heavenly host they’re munching on.
I didn’t care less about WYD until Iemma declared I’d be arrested and fined $5,500 if I so much as annoyed the poor dears.I’m now going to the No To Pope protest tomorrow.
As for the happy clappy Pilgrims, I was unfortunate to have a group of them moaning some chant/song as they approached the ATM I was trying to withdraw money from in peace the other day. Had this bizarre banner they were holding with a pontif pic saying “come to me”. By the time I got my money they were at the ATM and I could take it no more, and shouted “Does your Priest wear condoms?” (they looked quite stunned btw)
Those who protest the assumption by religious believers that non-believers can do no good have forgotten one thing. The primary good deed is to render to God what is God’s–thanks and praise and adoration. These are owed God the Creator in justice. Even ‘good deeds,’ even deeds of real heroism, are, when done for mankind alone, or for one’s honor alone, or even for love of one’s family–alone–are not as pleasing in God’s eyes as when these actions are done in God’s name. I cite the Old Testament, when Moses came down from the mountain with the ten commandments and found the people happily worshipping the golden calf, a pagan prototype about as godlike as shit and air, God’s protest to Moses was that–how could they, after He had brought them out of Egypt? How could they, after He parted the Red Sea for them and bound up Pharoah’s army in the waves? How could they?
This God of the Judeo-Christian revelation is a jealous God and One who wants our love. And that’s good! What love that is worth it is not like that, hmmm? So when religious people cop that attitude, what they are saying is, you’re missing something, and without it you are merely a do-gooder. Merely.
Who needs Guy Sebastian’s turgid theme song when Murray Head with a song written by Sir Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber (before he went all mushy) summed up yesterday’s events in 4 minutes and 5 seconds
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=qRyoRKRPE04
Actually I found a better colour clip in Stereo
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=jHRlsykrTpU&feature=related
Adrian @ 12,
Having had the grave misfortune to have bog-Irish variety Catholics like Shanahan in my early life, I know3 from sad expewrience that there’s only two ways to deal with them - Have nothing to do with them, ot tell them to get stuffed.
btw, this is no slur on the Irish, simply a reflection on the spiritually brutal and very nasty reality that many Australian-Irish Catholics were brought up with. I’m actually quite stunned to still see it in full flower.
You’re confusing us modern atheists with ancient pagans. We’re not the same.
You also need to tone down your language, otherwise you will look hysterical.
How could they? They didn’t - it’s just a story. Do a little research and you will find that the Exodus never happened. In fact most of the “Old Testament” never happened. The Hebrew religion didn’t start until the 9th century BCE.
“You’re confusing us modern atheists with ancient pagans. We’re not the same.”
Are you saying “modern atheists” have cut out all the fun parts? Like nekked dancing at full moons and stuff.
Spoil sports!
I’m not sure whether this is on or off-topic but I met a priest last night who was on a bender and took me with him. We discussed things like the Catholic sexual code and he had views that were sophisticated, nuanced and progressive! True.
.
Of course he was way down on the hierarchy and not a happy camper.
No the closest thing to anceint paganism in the Western world is, um, Catholicism.
Bingo!
Could someone paraphrase for me what the Pope’s message is on climate change?
silkworm @ 28,
POPE: “Flying to Australia from Rome it dawned on me the planet is pretty stuffed. Never mind George Pell. I know he’s a bit of a goose, but I didn’t make him a Cardinal, so don’t blame me. Oh, and I really like the Australian bush - what I’ve seen of it.”
The fact is the Pope really doesn’t give a stuff about the planet.
That’s a “fact”, is it, silkworm?
His caring for the planet is the same as his caring for the victims of sexual abuse.
Look, we know you don’t like religion, silkworm. Surprising as it may seem, that doesn’t absolve you from having to justify your assertions with arguments and evidence. Particularly if you claim they are “fact”.
You don’t have to care about the planet, you just have to care about yourself and not be ignorant, obstinant or obtuse. Of course many popes have been all three.
On a slightly more serious level, Silkworm, I would suggest this Pope seriously cares about the environment. I don’t know enough about his theological stance to comment on that part of it with accuracy, but I do know he regularly returns to Germany. It would seem, if he had not already been aware of the world environmental problems, it would have been impossible for him not to be after the widespread environmental action in his home country over the past few years. And it seems he is from his speech - you could read it -
And besides, with the Vatican Diplomatic Service, the Pope is probably one of the most well-informed piople on earth.
Pilgrim doing stations of the cross? No! Giant Squid
(ok, I thought it was funny, with all the nailing to crosses, heavenly host munching and suchlike)