Resting Pope Takes to Prayer, Work, Music - Pontiff Serene After Long Flight [Ecumenical]

ZNA ^ | July 14, 2008

[NYer]

p>SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 14, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Photos show Benedict XVI enjoying his days of rest Down Under -- praying, working and delighting in a classical music concert.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, told journalists that the Pope is "absolutely serene and resting." Some members of the Australian press had painted a bleak picture of the Pontiff's health, saying that the Holy Father was extremely exhausted after his flight of more than 20 hours.

But the Vatican spokesman presented a video Monday afternoon, local time, showing the Pope praying and walking with his secretaries at the Opus Dei retreat center where he is staying till World Youth Day officially opens.

"The images that you see are serene," Father Lombardi said. "The Pope is totally tranquil and resting. To those who worry about his health, I have to say that there is no problem."

The spokesman said that Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in private after arriving to the center Sunday. Then he had dinner and rested.

"This morning, he had Mass with his entourage, a dozen people, celebrating with his secretary and two Opus Dei priests," Father Lombardi said. "After breakfast, he took a first walk and then retreated to work, just as he does every morning. A little after 1 p.m., Cardinal [George] Pell and Bishop [Anthony] Fisher [of Sydney] came to see the Pope. They had lunch together and spoke of the preparations.

"After lunch, he took his typical daily walk with his secretaries. Afterward, a period of work. At 4 p.m. he spent something of a longer time with Cardinal Pell.

"There is a pond, a small lake, and a little chapel where the Pope paused to pray the rosary.

"At 5, there was a concert that the archbishop of Sydney, [Cardinal] Pell, and Bishop Fisher attended. They played pieces from Schumann, Mozart and Schubert. The concert ended at about 6. At 7, dinner."

Benedict XVI will stay at the Opus Dei center until his official arrival to World Youth Day on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., local time.

[NYer]

Jet lag can be a killer! Has anyone calculated how many time zones he passed during the nearly 16 hour fligh?

[OpusatFR]

Prayers for Pontiff’s health, courage, strength, evangelism as Christ’s servant bump.

[Biggirl]

Well coming from a poster who just got back from Arcadia National Park in Maine tonight, and remembering the Pope’s big trip to America a few months back, despite all the talk about long trips and his age and health, Pope B16 has done very well.

[big'ol_freeper]

Viva Il Papa!!

[ELS]

Pope Benedict XVI shakes hand with Cardinal George Pell (L) at the Kenthurst Study Center in Sydney July 14, 2008. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano/Pool (AUSTRALIA)

Pope Benedict XVI walks with Cardinal George Pell (R) at the Kenthurst Study Center in Sydney July 14, 2008. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano/Pool (AUSTRALIA)

Pope Benedict XVI walks by a lake at the Kenthurst Study Center in Sydney July 14, 2008. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano/Pool (AUSTRALIA)

Pope Benedict XVI (C) flanked by Cardinal George Pell (R) walks near a small lake in the Kenthurst Study Center in Sydney. Thousands of Catholic pilgrims from around the globe followed sacred icons through the streets of Sydney ahead of World Youth Day, as the pope rested up for the week's events. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano/Pool (AUSTRALIA)

There are a lot of nice photos taken by L'Osservatore Romano, but the credits include AP, so I can't post them here. But, you can visit Yahoo! News Photos: Papacy and the Vatican and go through the first 30 or so images of the slideshow to see recent photos of the Holy Father's stay at the retreat center.

[marshmallow]

Some members of the Australian press had painted a bleak picture of the Pontiff's health, saying that the Holy Father was extremely exhausted after his flight of more than 20 hours.

Anyone is extremely exhausted after a flight of more than 20 hours!