Pope on a Roll
A windy day in old Vatican Town
Benedict XVI has been newsworthy two days in a row. After telling the governments adhering to the European Union that they are skating on very thin ice as far as apostasy goes – (here) – he has today pointed out that anyone who gets in his way stands a very good chance of going straight to Hell.
Here is how he said that, according to Vatican Radio: “Jesus came to Earth to tell us that he wants us all in Paradise and that Hell, which is not much spoken about these days, exists and is eternal for those who close their hearts to His love.”
The Pope spoke during a pastoral visit to the Roman church of “Santa Felicita e Figli Martiri” – “Saint Felicity and Martyred Children.” His homily took as its theme the biblical account of the adulterous woman condemned to be stoned to death, saying about this that: “The true enemy is the attachment to sin, which can lead us to the failure of our existence.” Perhaps unfortunately in the context, he had greeted the faithful present at the service saying: “You are the living stones of the Church.”
Oh, since we’re going to try to lay off the Servant of the Servants of God for a while, this is probably the place to mention that Benedict XVI will shortly reach his Eightieth Year – on April 16th – and that to better celebrate the happy anniversary of his survival, every employee of the Vatican will receive the day off and a special the-Pope-is-still-kicking “tip” of an extra 500 euro – about 670 real dollars – in his or her April pay packet.