THE POPE STANDS UP (and walks out on Palestinian leader Sheikh Taysir al-Tamimi)

NY Post ^ | May 12, 2009

[presidio9]

In an action that spoke far louder than words, Pope Benedict yesterday walked out of an interfaith meeting in Jerusalem after the chief Islamic judge of the Palestinian Authority launched into an anti-Israeli diatribe.

The pontiff, on his first day in Jerusalem, did not realize at first that Sheikh Taysir al-Tamimi, speaking in Arabic, was condemning the "crimes of the Jewish state" and accusing Israel of having "slaughtered women, children and senior citizens."

But as soon as he was told the nature of the sheikh's tirade, he stood and left the meeting, which took place at Notre Dame church, before it had concluded.

It's not as if the organizers shouldn't have seen this coming: Back in 2000, Tamimi did the same thing during a visit by the late Pope John Paul II.

A spokesman for the Holy See later condemned the remarks, saying that

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Tamimi walked over and shook the Pope’s hand when he was finished speaking. Then the Pope was informed of the content of the sheik’s speech and he left.

Maybe yes, maybe no. It could be that a pontiff’s shaking hands upon exiting a gathering is an ingrained habit [pun not intended].

[yldstrk]

yay Pope!

[markomalley]

Actually, I watched the replay of the incident last night and what happened was even worse. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem leaned over and translated for the Holy Father. Then they both started chuckling while this buffoon droned on and on and on and on. (I think that this is called laughing in his face...)

Some Christian bishop went over to the “Sheikh”, got his attention, and whispered to him to sit down and stop embarrassing himself (no, I didn’t hear the words, but it was apparent that something approximating this is what happened). At that point, the “Sheikh” stopped talking and returned to his seat.

The Holy Father then stood up immediately after the speech and left.

A video of the entire meeting is here: http://ewtn.edgeboss.net/wmedia/ewtn/multicast/video/windowsmedia/papal/2009holyland/20090511_notredame_en_300k.wvx

The “sheikh” begins to speak at around 25:06. Pope laughing at around 28:55. People walking out on him throughout. Bishop coming to talk to him at around 30:05. Then he sits down at around 30:20.

[presidio9]

What did Ratzinger expect?

Um, his name's not Ratzinger any more. Sorry nobody told you.

[presidio9]

From it we learn that Ratzinger shook hands with the guy after his speech,

Again, there is no "Ratzinger." If it makes you uncomfortable to type the name Pope (I promise you won't get struck by lightning), you are free to refer to him as Benedict. That's what he's calling himself these days.

[presidio9]

You are the wind beneath my wings.

[presidio9]

Maybe yes, maybe no. It could be that a pontiff’s shaking hands upon exiting a gathering is an ingrained habit [pun not intended].

Either way, the Palestinians took it as an insult. That's the only thing that really matters, as far as I'm concerned.

[elhombrelibre]

I think the best thing we could do is convince Obama that all terrorists are human fetuses. If we can do this, Obama will show them no mercy. He’ll stop the charade that they’re naive innocents entitled to the same rights as any American citizen.

[Campion]

You can do the next-best thing and tell him that terrorists are anti-abortion and pro-gun ownership.

[Campion]

Do you honestly think the pope would put himself in such a vulnerable position unknowingly?

Wow, yeah, he should know better than to avoid unscheduled speakers speaking in a language he doesn't understand.

That way, the "pope is guilty until proven innocent, and even then he's still completely guilty" crowd would have to look elsewhere for their minimum daily requirement of pope-trashing garbage.

[AnalogReigns]

Very telling that the Pope has no problem offending people for what he stands for and our own President apparently does.

One man is godly, the other is not.

[Running On Empty]

Thanks for the information in this post.

[AnalogReigns]

I used to help my father organize simultaneous translators for the National Prayer Breakfast in DC, so I’m familiar with the people and the process.

Simultaneous translation is a very specialized and difficult art—very different than written translation—requiring very (very) specialized skills. Virtually always, simultaneous translators at official events like this are given prepared written remarks that they work from—while the speaker is speaking. Any major UN speech or places you hear simultaneous translation is like that.

When an un-announced speaker shows up—without a prepared text—many times a translator just cannot keep up or won’t even try—as they can get in big trouble if they get stuff wrong.

Having seen these translators in action for years, and provided support for them, I find it very believable that this sheik got in, and got his screed out—without it being simultaneously translated.

[pillut48]

I’ve read several different versions now, one where this Islamic leader ranted for a full 10 minutes in arabic (if true, the Pope couldn’t tell he was badmouthing Israel??) and another version that it was all very peaceable and civilized (WAPO even gives ALL the anti-semitic details of the unscheduled ‘speech’)—think I’ll wait for a video to make up my own mind and forget about the middle man spin!

[presidio9]

BLAH BLAH BLAH (the Dr can’t hear you) BLAH BLAH BLAH

[AnalogReigns]

Has Ratzinger legally changed his name? I thought Benedict XVI was a formal regnal/pontifical name linked to his title as Pope, not an actual legal name change.

I bet his friends still call him Joseph and last I checked he’s still in charge of the Ratzinger Foundation. In the same way that Elizabeth II is still a Windsor (though she should be a Hanover) while called Queen Elizabeth, Benedict XVI is still a Ratzinger, though Roman Catholics call him Pope Benedict.

[reagan_fanatic]

(I’ve been inhaling Roundup today!)

Mind if I score some?

[presidio9]

This is a good example of why non-Catholics have no business offering their opinions on subjects for which the actual facts are available and well-known. The Pope's drinking buddies most certainly do not call him Joseph in public (possibly in private -few close friends continued to call KP2 Karol affectionately). His name is Benedict. The name change thing dates back to the 6th century, when a man named Mercurius was elected Pope. To avoid confusion with the pagan god, he became John II. Over the past 1500 years this tradition has continued. There is no real religious basis for it, but it has come to symbolize the new life that is taken on when one becomes Pope. The choice of the name is also symbolic, it is indicative of the priorities that will guide his reign. It is also each Pope's first official act. It is not a formal regnal/pontifical name linked to the title. The Pope does not stop being the Pope when he goes home each night. And the idea that "it is not an actual legal name change" is one of the more asinine things I have read on FR in a while. The Pope is head of state of the Holy See, the oldest nation on the planet. When he says someting, it is official and binding. To compare him to Queen Elizabeth, who did not change her name and who's presiding role over however many million British subjects is ceremonial doesn't even make a heck of a lot of sense.

I forgive you because I know that you didn't understand this, but the man's name as far as you are concerned is Benedict. For you to refer to him by any other name isn't even an insult. It just looks like you don't know what you're talking about.

[presidio9]

Let me save you the time: The Pope isn’t going to knowingly sit around and listen to anyone bad mouth any other nation. Especially Isreal, but including Palestine. That’s not what true Catholicism is about, and the Pope is the leader of the faith.

[AFPhys]

There was no simultaneous translation because Tamimi was not a scheduled speaker. The Pope only has official translators, not people whispering in his ear. I work in the translation business, and translators at events like this do not “wing it.” They are given the prepared texts of the speeches, go over them so that they will provide quick and accurate translations, and do not leap up to provide a translation of somebody who is not on the list.

-—<>-—<>-—<>-—<>-—<>-—

Thank you for your educated discussion of what occurs in a situation like this. I hope others appreciate you relating your experience.

For others, there is a video linked in Post#43 that you can watch if you wish to witness the event.