tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post546276950161447951..comments2023-08-19T23:23:19.849+10:00Comments on Sentire cum Ecclesia: Have no fear! Pope shows the way for Religious Leaders in Britain and
elsewhere...Schützhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05026181010471282505noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-54494124452366754392010-09-21T06:30:46.000+10:002010-09-21T06:30:46.000+10:00Post visit observations from London:Monday 20 sept...Post visit observations from London:<br>Monday 20 sept.<br>The pope has left Britain and now there is commentary on the effect of the visit here. The BBC is screening a one hr doc tonight on the effect of the visit (very quick indeed to respond).<br><br>But this morning on a BBC radio talk back radio show, an avowed atheist called in and was asked his views on the pope. The man,cooly and calmy said he was an atheist, but decided to hear what the pope had to say in person on the tv. He said he wanted to get a view of the man without media interference. And, yes, he had changed his mind about the pope and believed now that he (the pope) had some very relevant things to say about life etc. He had CHANGED HIS MIND.<br><br>I think this shows the power of the personal visit. So many people have perceptions formed by a very critical media (TV and papers) that are formed by very atheist-leaning voices. The people do not normally read about the pope, let alone see him in Rome or what he does. The vatican paper does not have the widest circulation on the planet and radio vaticana is not on everyone's iPod.<br><br>But the scenes in Scotland and England when the pope was in the streets was amazing. Whispers in the Loggia blog today has a great shot of the pmobile (the catholis Mr Whippy) along the great Mall in London showing: the huge flag drapped poles with the Holy See flag alongside that of the UK. But it is the 10 deep crowds of people looking at the pope and runnning alongside as they sought to view him, waving and smiling. How much a smile can change peoples' perceptions.<br><br>For years BXVI has been called the Rottwwiller. But by whom and why? He has been pope for 5 years now and this charge is falacious and totally misleading. But many in the media still hurl it around. The people are not fooled and the young, ever searching for love and meaning, were there in their 1000s to see and hear the pope.<br><br>John XXIII was in his 80s, Benedict is in his 80s - both men have made their impact on a celeb world in their own ways, as gentle, old men but wise and holy. Mandela was in his 80s and has had great impact. The Dalai lama is in his 70s and commands huge crowds. M Teresa was in her 80s when she had probably her greatest impact and still touching the poor and unloved.<br><br>One atheist can change his mind on the pope because he listened to him and heard. Probably just what many men and women did by the sea of Galillee and across palestine when Jesus walked among them 2000 years ago. No cars, no trains, no security to fend off the wild crowds. Just the Lord walking and walking and being with his disciples who decided to follow him. A call to each individual made then and now - that is the power of the great Teaching Pope, Benedict XVI<br><br>PAX<br>ps and the mayor of London did not charge the popemobile the £8 congestion charge!!adamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-76581899560358993932010-09-21T14:55:24.000+10:002010-09-21T14:55:24.000+10:00not just unfortunate - horrific. When you think th...not just unfortunate - horrific. When you think that Christianity was brought to Britain by Augustine 900 years before the reformation. All the great cathedrals, West Abbey and York and Canterbury were Catholic creations for centuries before Henry VIII took them over and ruthlessly laid plunder to the monasteries. He must have turned 500 times in his grave at St George's chapel, Windsor when the pope was in Britain these last 4 days. Certainly Elizabeth I would have spiralled in her tomb only metres from the venerated tomb of Edward the Confessor before which BXVI prayed on his knees. If she only knew was destruction was brought upon the faith Augustine and Gregory brought and for which More and Fisher gave their lives.adamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-69922906257973386462010-09-21T15:35:47.001+10:002010-09-21T15:35:47.001+10:00not just unfortunate – horrific. I would agree, A...<i>not just unfortunate – horrific.</i> <br><br>I would agree, Adam. Because of the many conflicts in Germany et al. during the Reformation I think the vibrancy of English Catholicisim is one of the world's best kept secrets. No wonder Henry's "reforms" were not welcomed.<br><br>I was fascinated to hear a comment during the papal coverage that Catholicism may be even older in Britian than was previously thought, having been brought by Roman Christians even before the legions would called back to Rome.<br><br><i>He must have turned 500 times in his grave at St George’s chapel, Windsor when the pope was in Britain these last 4 days. </i><br><br>That thought occurred to me as well :)Christinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-69294149266324922872010-09-21T15:35:47.000+10:002010-09-21T15:35:47.000+10:00would called back to Rome.er, make that "were...<i>would called back to Rome.</i><br><br>er, make that "were" called back to Rome.Christinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-28704782352349293972010-09-23T09:24:46.000+10:002010-09-23T09:24:46.000+10:00Quite.Quite.Louisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21487528.post-67037618572345112732010-09-23T09:29:14.000+10:002010-09-23T09:29:14.000+10:00Lord, I love this pope!Lord, I love this pope!Louisenoreply@blogger.com