Posted on 03/20/2009 7:57:15 AM PDT by NYer
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (CNS) -- A group of Pygmies showed up to give Pope Benedict XVI an unscheduled send-off from Cameroon, and presented him with a live turtle to take back with him to the Vatican.
The 15 Pygmies from the Baka ethnic group came to the pope's residence at the apostolic nunciature in Yaounde March 20 as the pontiff was preparing to leave for Angola. They built a ceremonial hut out of leaves in the garden of the residence, and the pope came out to greet them.
The Pygmies, including grandparents, parents and children, sang songs and danced to the beat of drums, and then gave the pope three gifts: a basket, a cloth mat and a turtle, which is a symbol of wisdom in Cameroon.
The fate of the turtle was a little unclear at first. Vatican officials aboard the papal plane to Angola told reporters it had been left behind in Cameroon.
But a few minutes later, the Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, walked into the journalist section of the plane carrying the turtle in a woven cage. Reporters snapped photos as the brown turtle, about eight inches long, poked its head out from under its shell.
The spokesman said he wasn't sure if the turtle would make the return trip to Rome and take up residence in the Vatican. He suggested it might find a home in the Vatican gardens.
The Baka Pygmies inhabit rain forests in southern Cameroon. A hunting and gathering people, they number fewer than 30,000.
....better than the Puppet Man’s gift, ya don’t have to plug it in
I guess giving lame gifts is in the blood.
How neat! That’s a great picture.
The turtle was a gift that took some actual thought.
God Bless the Pope!
Oh darn you, you beat me to it.
OK, here’s my version:
“Better than a gift pack of incompatible DVD’s”
The turtle gift is actually a lot more thoughtful and heartwarming. Plus, they make good soup. Just kidding folks, I wish the turtle a long and happy life.
I’ve actually stopped and rescued turtles or tortoises from roads several times. Unlike chickens, they’re not good road crossers and often don’t make it.
The pope displays a supernatural grace...
Pardon me for jumping in again,.....
Why don’t we good Americans, citizens and Freepers, et al, start sending DVD’s of “The Manchurian Candidate” to the Obammy White,...excuse me Black House to include in their next gift pack of DVD’s for visiting heads of state?
I’m sure he would really appreciate it.
It could be a movement.
But make sure that the DVD is unviewable because it is set for the wrong Region.
“But make sure that the DVD is unviewable because it is set for the wrong Region.”
Not sure what you mean here. Did you mean that the DVD’s that Obammy gave to the UK Prime Minister were incompatible with the UK or Euro players? I know that.
Thanks.
Did you read that the turtle has the cultural significance of representing wisdom? Receiving such a gift is dignifying; it means they consider him to be wise and hope that he will continue to be wise in his decisions.
What do DVDs represent in our culture? More Cheetos?
Yeah, that’s great about the turtle....now cough up the bling....;^)
He is Christ’s vicar to all God’s children.
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