WOW! text of Benedicts Ecumenical message changes at last minute!!

[Fergal]

Folks,
I am deeply puzzled and may be over reacting but I have been following closely and studying the texts delivered by Pope Benedict whilst in Germany over the past week.

I was reading with special interest his Ecumenical address and was very heartened by its directness. I even went so far as to post a thread on it: http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=70498

However, visiting the Vatican website today I notice the text is now very different from that reported to be delivered. It appears to have been changed and altered almost beyond recognition.

http://www.wjt2005.de/index.php?id=1...3&tt_news=1085

and compare it with this:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/be...eeting_en.html

I do notice that the word EMBARGO is placed over the one on the official WYD site along with the words "until speech delivered, check against delivery" I have no idea why they are there.

Does the Pope change His prepared speeches often?

I think you will agree that the difference is stark and frightening. The one posted on the Vatican website is lucid and very weak indeed whilst the one on the official WYD site is very direct and more in line with what I would expect Pope Benedict to deliver.

Who's lying? Or is anyone lying? Why two very different versions of the same speech? Is it because of Br Rogers assassination? and if so why the other rewrites in the address?

We know Pope Benedict was very late for this meeting. Was it a case of rewriting the speech at the last minute out of fear of offending anyone? Or am I just completely mad?

I am very puzzled by this. What think ye?

[Fergal]

Oh by the way, what brought me to recognise this was that in the original speech on the official WYD site the line "There can be no dialogue at the expense of truth; the dialogue must advance in charity and in truth." was present.

In the updated version on the Vaticn website it is missing along with other more direct statements that were in the original.

Thoughts?

[Fergal]

No one has any thoughts?

[Franze]

I am reading now the texts, I can´t give an opinion now, but I will have. i am very happy because the text with muslims was very hard and peaceful. I am very proud of Benedict XVI. The next year my city Valencia will have him like a marvellous guest. I´m very happy.

[Colm O'Higgins]

I haven#t read the text yet (im still traveling thru Europe) but I do know that he changed his 'speech'. A friend of mine believes the changes occurred after the Vigil.

I will share more later.

Gruß Gott & Tchüss!

[HagiaSophia]

Originally Posted by Fergal

I do notice that the word EMBARGO is placed over the one on the official WYD site along with the words "until speech delivered, check against delivery" I have no idea why they are there.

The word EMBARGO simply indicates a press release or handout provided to media outlets PRIOR to the event or the speech so they can go to press/wire once the speech starts or has been given. The word tells the media this is for their reference only and is not to be released or commented on by their outlets until that has happened.

Originally Posted by Fergal

Does the Pope change His prepared speeches often?

Yes and not only the pope. I remember JPII at one WYD took an entire address he had prepared and told the kids, it was too long, they could read it later, but he was just going to talk to them.

Most every public speaker often adds, deletes or spontaneously changes prepared text as they make their actual appearance.

It is being reported that B16 ditched some remarks he had prepared from a contemporary writer and instead talked about "adoration" and what it means. SOP. (Acronym for Standard Operating procedure).

[UKcatholicGuy]

so, the link you gave to the WYD site, is that the actual text of the speech Pope Bene gave? Or did he give the Vatican website's version? What are the actual words he spoke (as opposed to the planned speech)?