Week 3 of Pope Benedict's Reign: Installation as Bishop of Rome

Yahoo! News ^ | May 2005 | n/a

[Carolina]

This is a little dated, but gives us another dimension to Benedict.

Pope Benedict Without His Beloved Piano
April 29, 2005

Pope Benedict XVI, a fan of Mozart and Bach, is still without his piano because movers haven't been able to fit it through the windows of his papal apartment. The Italian news agency ANSA reports that the piano should have been moved in a couple of days ago, but attempts to carry it up the stairs and through the windows of his new quarters failed. They're thinking about dismantling the piano and reassembling it inside its new location. The Pope, who plays the piano to relax, reportedly used to irk his neighbors in Rome by playing Mozart, Bach and Palestrina a little too loudly. ANSA reports that the pontiff made a surprise visit to his old flat a day after his election especially to play his favorite music.

--Betsy O'Connor, KDFC News

Can you imagine what his neighbors did to let him know of their annoyance?

[fatnotlazy]

Thanks. Sweet story. Most of the buildings in Italy are rather thin on soundproofing, so I can imagine that even if he played softly, the neighbors could probably hear him play. I just hope they can install the piano. It is a difficult task hauling one of those pianos anywhere, let alone through a narrow window or skimpy staircase (both of which are typical in Italy).

[ELS]

The Pope, who plays the piano to relax, reportedly used to irk his neighbors in Rome by playing Mozart, Bach and Palestrina a little too loudly.

Philistines! I would gladly listen to Mozart, Bach, and Palestrina being played on the piano by a neighbor. It sure beats the garbage (and that is being diplomatic) that is loudly played on stereos around here.

[ELS]

Thank you for posting the article.

[Carolina]

It sure beats the garbage (and that is being diplomatic) that is loudly played on stereos around here.

Oh, yes, hip-hop played at mind-numbing decibels.

Back to annoyed neighbors...Can you just imagine Palestrina seeping through the walls??! I read an interview that Charlie Rose did with Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete who said that Benedict needs to go on a piano tour. Charlie Rose interviews Lorenzo Albacete.

[ELS]

Can you just imagine Palestrina seeping through the walls??!

I could deal with that. ;-) Unfortunately, where I'm currently living, I doubt any of my neighbors have ever heard of Palestrina.

Thanks for the link to the interview. I can't read it now, but I will ASAP. A concert piano tour works for me.

[BlessedBeGod]

Thank you for the beautiful photos!

[ELS]

I read the interview and I just laughed at this paragraph:

And then he came over to me and he said hi. I said, oh, hi. Your Eminence, look, I'm very concerned. I am the founder of a movement, and it's not here. You haven't listed it. He said, "Oh, what is your movement?" I said Joie de Times Square. He started laughing. And he said, "What is your charism," namely your specialty? And I said, oh, the Virgin. And he said, "Ah, Our Lady." I said, no, no, the Virgin Megastore that's over in Times Square, that's open all night, that's where we meet.

And that was his reaction. He had to order water. He probably thinks I'm just some big clown anyway.