Papa Ratz & the cats

pear · #1 Apr 21, '05, 3:32 pm

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere, but this is the cutest anecdote from one of today's AP stories:

Another cardinal, Italian Tarcisio Bertone, who had worked as Ratzinger's top aide, described how the new pope always paid attention to the street cats around the Vatican and how they sometimes followed him as he walked to his office.

Bertone joked: "One time the Swiss Guards had to intervene: `Look, your eminence, the cats are laying siege to the Holy See.'"

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...e&sid=84439559

Isn't that adorable? Benedict is such a sweet man.

chicago · #2 Apr 21, '05, 4:08 pm

"Papa Ratz and the Cats"... sounds like a band. lol

4HisChurch · #3 Apr 21, '05, 5:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by pear

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere, but this is the cutest anecdote from one of today's AP stories:

Another cardinal, Italian Tarcisio Bertone, who had worked as Ratzinger's top aide, described how the new pope always paid attention to the street cats around the Vatican and how they sometimes followed him as he walked to his office.

Bertone joked: "One time the Swiss Guards had to intervene: `Look, your eminence, the cats are laying siege to the Holy See.'"

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...e&sid=84439559

Isn't that adorable? Benedict is such a sweet man.

Now THAT would make a wonderful picture!!

misiu · #4 Apr 21, '05, 5:53 pm

Got to love the irony: The watch dog the cats affectionatly follow.

peace

**Annunciata** · #5 Apr 21, '05, 6:00 pm

The "German Shepherd" looking out for the cats too...

CarolAnnSFO · #6 Apr 21, '05, 6:07 pm

Read more about our Papa here:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor..._portrait_wa_1

Quote:

"I went with him once," said Konrad Baumgartner, the head of the theology department at Regensburg University. "Afterwards, he went into the old cemetery behind the church.

"It was full of cats, and when he went out, they all ran to him. They knew him and loved him. He stood there, petting some and talking to them, for quite a long time. He visited the cats whenever he visited the church. His love for cats is quite famous."

The article also says he loves Christmas cookies, and will try every variety!

Baby Sister · #7 Apr 21, '05, 6:14 pm

I came across it today also and thought--I love him!!

**Annunciata** · #8 Apr 21, '05, 6:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Sister

I came across it today also and thought--I love him!!

How sweet! I love him too!

Traditional Ang · #9 Apr 21, '05, 6:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annunciata

The "German Shepherd" looking out for the cats too...

Annunciata:

I was doing some reading today and got hit with a 2 X 4 as to why Cardinal Ratzinger was SO tough on those who preached and taught HERESY:

There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep. For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but condemned them to the chains of Tartarus and handed them over to be kept for judgment; and if he did not spare the ancient world, even though he preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, together with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the godless world;and if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (to destruction), reducing them to ashes, making them an example for the godless (people) of what is coming; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man oppressed by the licentious conduct of unprincipled people (for day after day that righteous man living among them was tormented in his righteous soul at the lawless deeds that he saw and heard), then the Lord knows how to rescue the devout from trial and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who follow the flesh with its depraved desire and show contempt for lordship. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to revile glorious beings, whereas angels, despite their superior strength and power, do not bring a reviling judgment against them from the Lord.

But these people, like irrational animals born by nature for capture and destruction, revile things that they do not understand, and in their destruction they will also be destroyed, suffering wrong as payment for wrongdoing. Thinking daytime revelry a delight, they are stains and defilements as they revel in their deceits while carousing with you. Their eyes are full of adultery and insatiable for sin. They seduce unstable people, and their hearts are trained in greed. Accursed children!

Abandoning the straight road, they have gone astray, following the road of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved payment for wrongdoing, but he received a rebuke for his own crime: a mute beast spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

These people are waterless springs and mists driven by a gale; for them the gloom of darkness has been reserved. For, talking empty bombast, they seduce with licentious desires of the flesh those who have barely escaped from people who live in error. They promise them freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him. For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of (our) Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first.

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down to them. What is expressed in the true proverb has happened to them, "The dog returns to its own vomit," and "A bathed sow returns to wallowing in the mire."

2 Peter 2:1-12 NAB

If you'll read that passage carefully, you'll get that there's a horrid penalty for preaching false doctrine, and that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger didn't make it up.

Cardinal Ratzinger was tough on these people because he was trying to keep them from going to hell. It must have grieved him horribly when they just refused to listen to the correction.

Blessings and Peace, Michael

**Annunciata** · #10 Apr 21, '05, 6:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traditional Ang

Annunciata:

2 Peter 2:1-12 NAB

If you'll read that passage carefully, you'll get that there's a horrid penalty for preaching false doctrine, and that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger didn't make it up.

Cardinal Ratzinger was tough on these people because he was trying to keep them from going to hell. It must have grieved him horribly when they just refused to listen to the correction.

Blessings and Peace, Michael

He sure is the man! Thanks for sharing this...

I just hope snd pray that those who are unhappy w/ him will come to love him and see what a "Good Shepherd" he really is...

**Zooey** · #11 Apr 21, '05, 8:27 pm

Well, speaking as another cat person, I want to know: Why can't he have a cat? I mean, he is the pope...I would think he could have a dozen if he wanted to...
How great to hear that he helps the ones who have no home. That is a beautiful thing.

m134e5 · #12 Apr 21, '05, 9:12 pm

He likes cats? I guess no one's perfect......

I hate cats.

DaveBj · #13 Apr 21, '05, 9:29 pm

Faithful, and a cat lover too!!!

All the more reason to love him!

DaveBj

chicago · #14 Apr 21, '05, 11:08 pm

I can see his epitaph now, "Benedict, Proctector of the Cats". And Rome will fill up with thankful felines from far and near for the funeral.

Bootoo · #15 Apr 21, '05, 11:10 pm

This is a great post, and thanks to Pear for telling me this about our new Pope.

These are the thoughts that I have always had about the relationship between animals and people:

1. Anyone who truly loves animals is a person whom I will like and trust, unless proven otherwise. Anyone who truly dislikes animals is a person whom I will always have a few reservations about.

2. Most animals are better and quicker judges about who is a good person than most people are.

Our "Papa Ratz" does score highly, on both accounts.