News from yesterday... I'm slow

[Anne]

Wir haben ein neuer Papst! Er kommt aus Deutschland. Er heißt Benedict XVI.

[Willard]

Heard it... just not in German. Though you should find out what the German version of Benidict is.

[Anne]

My class is thinking Benedictus, but I'll look more into that!

[Willard]

My class is thinking Benedictus, but I'll look more into that!

I believe that is the Latin form.

[Anne]

Found it! It's Benedikt. I'm going to go tease my teacher for being wrong. He wasn't sure if it would be the Latin form or not. This reminds me, I still need to do a short report on him... http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=benedikt

[Willard]

Very cool, congratulations!

[tyler]

But stay with me here, folks.

Does the following sequence of images seem at least A LITTLE possible?









I'm just saying, keep an eye out.

c/o old Helmut Grokenberger

[S1L3N7B0B]

I have to admit, he does have a striking resemblance to the emperor.

[Anne]

Anyone who speaks German wouldn't possibly do anything bad!

[S1L3N7B0B]

Anyone who speaks German wouldn't possibly do anything bad!

Oh, of course not. Never.

[Willard]

Jaws was never my sceen and I don't like Star Wars....

[Sertile]

I've been telling people all along this guy looked like the Emperor! First pope I've ever been legitimately afraid of, though only the second pope in my lifetime so that's not saying much. It's just a bit of a shocker, going from the grandfatherly, loveable JPII to Palpatine.

Speaking of which, has anyone kept up with the prophesy of St. Malachy, who predicted all the popes in the form of Latin verses? Most have matched up pretty well so far, especially for the last pope, but this guy's supposed to be "The glory of the olives" which is a little "??"

[Anne]

The glory of olives? How are olives glorious?

[ann_marie]

Gloria olivæ
The Benedictine order traditionally said this Pope would come from their order, since a branch of the Benedictine order is called the Olivetans. St Benedict is said to have prophesied that before the end of the world, a member of his order would be Pope and would triumphantly lead the Church in its fight against evil. While the Holy Father chose the name "Benedict", this does not seem enough to fulfil the prophecy. Nor is it clear how Benedict XVI (a Bavarian) is "Glory of the Olives". Since he is said to have remarked in the Conclave after saying he would take the name Benedict that it was partly to honour Benedict XV, a pope of peace and reconciliation, perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the World, and thus carry the olive branch.

Olive branch is a colloquial term referring to a concession or a gesture of peace, as well as a peace symbol. Deriving from its origins in Ancient Greece as a symbol of peace and prosperity, the olive branch is used throughout many western cultures to convey the idea of peace.

Why the olive branch came to symbolize peace remains something of a mystery. Speculative explanations tend to center around the idea that olive trees take a very long time to bear fruit. Thus the cultivation of olives is something that is generally impossible in time of war.

[ropingk]

The Olive branch also symbolizes hope as it did when the Dove with the olive branch came to Noah, it was a sigh that the land was once again bringing forth trees and fruit and thus letting noah know it was good to agin walk on land--which afer being closed up with his wife and childred for that long had to be a relief