Associated Press – August 3, 2008
BRESSANONE, Italy – Pope Benedict XVI sent greetings to China on Sunday before the Olympics and said he hoped the Games would offer an example of coexistence among people from different countries.
He said he will follow the Olympics, which open Friday, with a sense of “deep friendship” and expressed hope the sports can represent “a pledge of brotherhood and peace among people.”
Benedict spoke during the traditional Angelus prayer in Bressanone, a town in the Italian Alps where he is vacationing.
“I follow with deep friendship this great sporting event – the most important and awaited on a world level – and I wish that it offer the international community a valid example of coexistence among people of different background in the respect of common dignity,” the pope told the faithful gathered in Bressanone.
Benedict sent his greetings to China, organizers of the Games and the athletes, expressing hope that “each can give their best in the true Olympic spirit.”
Benedict has made the improvement of relations with Beijing a priority of his papacy.
China’s officially atheistic Communist Party forced Chinese Catholics to cut ties with the Vatican in 1951, and the two sides have not restored formal relations. Beijing sees the Vatican tradition of the pope naming his own bishops as interference in the country.
China appoints bishops for the state-sanctioned Catholic church. Still, many of the country’s estimated 12 million Catholics worship in congregations outside the state-approved church and often are arrested or harassed.
Benedict sent a special letter to Catholics in China last year, praising the underground church, but also urging the faithful to reconcile with followers of the official church.
In his Sunday’s address, the pontiff mentioned the only saint from the area where he is on vacation – a missionary who went to China in the 19th century and died there in 1908. The pope made the comment in Ladino, the third language of this corner of German-speaking northern Italy.
The Angelus was the pope’s first public appearance of his vacation. It drew some 9,000 people, some dressed in local costumes.
The pope has been working on a new volume of his book about Jesus as well as on speeches for his trip to France next month, said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi.
Benedict said the visit to Bressanone allows him “to go back into my past and at the same time walk toward the future.” The pope visited the town a dozen times when he was a cardinal, often in the company of his brother, Georg, who has joined him.
Benedict will return to his summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo outside Rome on Aug. 11.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted August 6, 2008 at 7:37 pm
And I’m sure China is jumping for joy that Benny 16 has sent them “greetings” while he is on vacation. Vacation? He works so hard he has to go on vacation?
posted August 6, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Funny how people go out of there way to make fun or snear “in your face” baby..so proud to say something really dumb about someone so faithful…and good as Pope Benedict XVI. I suppose sister Pagan never really read the Popes books or papers. It might be a little to “intellectual” for her.
posted August 6, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Sorry to disappoint, but his actions speak louder than words, Hammar22. You seem to think he is an intellect. Probably is, but that doesn’t seem to transfer to his leadership of the RCC. I haven’t seen anything in him that would lead me to believe he has the best interests of his “flock”. He proves it by holding the RCC back several thousand years in many matters, which I won’t go into here…however one is the lack of allowing “artificial” birth control (and yes I know the so called reasons), but that alone helps spread the Aids virus in poor countries, as well as STD’s etc. One of many things he hasn’t done. So do I respect the guy…that’s a NO.
posted August 6, 2008 at 11:45 pm
He has not done much to endear him to those of us who care more about the earth we live on and the people we share it with than we do about your particular religion or religions.
posted August 7, 2008 at 11:39 am
Front side:
Lovely scene of Summer at Castle Gandolfo (with distant figure in red Speedo – wading in the lake)
Reverse side:
Having a good time – weather is beautiful – glad you are not here – have fun at the games – good luck.(Crossed out – Go Italy) Go Germany!
Your pal,
Ben
Addressed to:
IOC, Beijing, China
posted August 7, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Again with the “red Speedo” jestrfyl! That is a scary image. Does he wear his official Pope hat in the lake so folks won’t forget who he is (or does he walk ON the water in the lake, in his red Speedo and official Pope hat?)
Great Pope post card, BTW.
posted August 8, 2008 at 3:05 pm
You may think that new Speedo suit works wonders for the Olympians – but nothing matches the marine dynamics of the Papal Pointy Hat!
If he walks on water, would he have to enter the Sprinting events or Speed Walking, or would this be more like the winter event, shooting (poor defenseless) skeets while skiing.
posted August 8, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Hard question, jestrfyl. Which to enter, Sprinting events or Speed Walking (on water of course). Guess the IOC would have to decide which category those skills fit into…or Benny would pray on it and wait for an answer. Of course the summer Olympics might be over before an answer arrived. But if indeed he finally got an answer too late, it might be he’d have to pray again about the winter event…as to whether he should be shooting defenseless skeets while skiing. Wouldn’t that break the commandment, “Thou shall not kill?”