What the President said to 'His Holy Father'...

[dEMOK]

Source: Guardian (UK)



John Hooper in Rome
Sunday June 10, 2007

He really is priceless. Other world leaders see the Pope with their advisers and the Vatican's peerlessly punctilious protocol experts, making sure they do not commit the slightest gaffe. But George W. Bush can outwit them all. On the plane to Rome, he was already struggling.


The Pope is addressed as 'Your Holiness'. Roman Catholics refer to him as 'The Holy Father'. But somewhere in the tumble dryer that is the part of the US President's brain set aside for words, the two concepts got tangled and he told Associated Press: 'I think His Holy Father will be pleased to know that much of our foreign policy is based on the admonition to whom much is given, much is required.'


No doubt Pope Benedict, whom Bush later described as 'very smart', was able to deconstruct the rest of the sentence. But before he got down to cases with Bush, the Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles and Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church had the unusual experience of being called 'sir'. 'It's good to be with you, sir,' said Bush as he sat down. But it was just one of those days for George W. Even the car broke down.<snip>


The Pope mischievously asked Bush if his talks with Putin had also been good. Glancing at the reporters who were about to be ushered from the room, the President replied: 'Ummm ... I'll tell you in a minute.'

on edit - formatting






Read more: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2099509,00.html#article_continue

[Phredicles]

1. "The Pope mischievously asked Bush if his talks with Putin had also been good."

I don't like him but he's not dumb. Benedict, I mean.

[dEMOK]

4. No he's not dumb...

He ain't no John Paul II, but he ain't no Neocon either.

My favorite (and telling) snippet is, "The Pope mischievously asked Bush if his talks with Putin had also been good. Glancing at the reporters who were about to be ushered from the room, the President replied: 'Ummm ... I'll tell you in a minute.'

[dEMOK]

12. Self Delete...

[silverweb]

2. "Priceless", huh?

"He really is priceless."

You want him?

You're more than welcome to the embarrassing goon.

Really.

[Decruiter]

31. That's what you call an imbecile child

He pulls your cat's tail, wipes boogers on your couch, and bangs his silverware, flicking food everywhere.
He's five, which is a little late for such primitive behavior, but his parents are close friends of yours.

So you call him "priceless." If Boosh were a little girl, she'd be "precious."

[silverweb]

34. Ah, yes...

One of those politely, subtly, gently sarcastic British terms... often lost on the dense and the Yanks. :D

May we still give him away to whoever will take him?

Anyone?

Please?

[MisterP]

3. did the Swiss Guard make him cry?

[dEMOK]

5. No but...

...he thanked them for the cheese.

[dEMOK]

7. He doesn't much care for Swiss "chard"... nt

[Lisa]

26. I heard somewhere that he really dislikes beets -- same species

(only Swiss Chard is bred for the leaves, rather than the roots)

[Hieronymus]

27. Knowing Bush's love of playing "dress up" ..

He's having one of those outfits made for himself.:rofl:

[ProudDad]

6. Wonderful

the visit between the two biggest most sanctimonious nazis on Earth

[arewenotdemo]

8. Agreed. And if Ratzinger hadn't put the hit out on Kerry in 2004,

his boy couldn't still be murdering Iraqis by the score.

Yet he wants everyone to believe he feels their pain.

[dEMOK]

9. Good Point...

I hadn't looked on it from this perspective (although the Rove machine might have covered the point spread anyway).

[pokercat999]

19. We would be better off if they were both gone forever. nt

[wake.up.america]

10. Whatever you say think about the Pope, you must admit he is highly intelligent.

The Pope knows exactly what is going on. How he reacts is something else. I don't agree with everything he does, but I have to say he is not as dogmatic as I epected.

[Erika]

11. What a bunch of bs

between religious hypocrites.

[Divine Discontent]

13. is it wrong to call him Pope Benedict,as in "hello Pope Benedict"

I'd not be able to make myself, as a follower of Christ that isn't Catholic, call him anything other than his official title of Pope Benedict. If I turned the corner and he was there, how crass would it be to say, hey, how ya doin' Mr. Ratzinger!? lol.. I jest, please don't take offense if you're a Catholic.

[Divine Discontent]

14. amazing to say it, btw,

but I 'miss' the old Pope!

[CountAllVotes]

23. me too

there will never be another John Paul II. O8)

[nodehopper]

24. and thank god for that

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29404-2005Jan22.html

I am so sick of people remembering JPII as this kindly moral leader when the man is complicit in the AIDS genocide.

[dEMOK]

15. I Need To Repost This Because It's So Indicative of The Cheney/Bush Mindset...

(Regardless of what you think of the present Pope -- take a cold/hard look at what Bush said here.)

My favorite (and telling) snippet is, "The Pope mischievously asked Bush if his talks with Putin had also been good. Glancing at the reporters who were about to be ushered from the room, the President replied: 'Ummm ... I'll tell you in a minute.' "

Thoughts?

[silverlil]

16. I am dense

What are you trying to say. Bush was drunk... I am not a catholic, so I am not going to disrespect this reglion and neither should we, and I dont think you did either, but I still do not get your post. Thick head, sorry.

[dEMOK]

17. Bush was saying to the Pope...

...I'll answer your question about the Putin talks -- after the reporters leave the room!

[Delphinus]

20. Meaning,

what's being told in the press isn't the real story?

Or, how dare the boy king tell the holy pope "wait"?

[dEMOK]

28. Your first staement...

...is my take. It's stereotypical of the disdain this administration has for openness & honesty.

[David__77]

18. Such pompous titles...

Don't forget "Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, and Servant of the Servants of God."

I don't mean "pompous" in a negative way. I mean there's a lot of pomp about it. It's like how the political leaders of some countries have had numerous titles.

[mitchtv]

33. Also "Benny the Rat"

Homophobe and Protector of Pedophiles. Worst thing since JPII

[Turbineguy]

21. Our President

the Rocket Surgeon.

[MindPilot]

22. Oh that pope is so mischievous...how cute!!

:puke:

[truthisfreedom]

25. He has a mischievous face...

Although this version seems to not include his raccoon-eyes...

[Decruiter]

32. OOO, I'm gonna add that to my collection!

[dflprincess]

29. I just watched "Deliver Us From Evil" last night

I knew that Benedict (while still a cardinal) had a hand in covering up the sex abuse cases. I did not know that he faced the possibility of obstruction of justice charges in the U.S. because of his actions. I also did not know that Bush gave him immunity from any charges. (Can the president give immunity from charges brought by a state?). I wonder what Bush got from the Pope for doing that.

[cmkramer]

30. Diplomatic immunity

Heads of state automatically have diplomatic immunity. IOW, Bush gave him nothing. He already had immunity as Head of State of Vatican City.