Herald Sun, AFP, April 22, 2011
THE Pope said he couldn't explain the suffering in quake-hit Japan in an historic appearance on a chat show.
 |
| Historic interview: Pope Benedict XVI has made an unprecedented appearance on a pre-recorded television chat show. AP |
Pope Benedict XVI has taken part in a chat show on Italian television in a first for a leader of the Catholic Church, calling for peace in Ivory Coast and the defence of Christians in Iraq.
But he confessed he had no answer to the first of the seven questions put to him, from a seven-year-old Japanese girl who asked: "Why do I have to be so afraid?" after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
"I also have the same questions: why is it this way? Why do you have to suffer so much while others live in ease? And we do not have the answers," the 84-year-old pontiff said in the candid question-and-answer session.
The pope's comments were incorporated into a daytime religious discussion program on public television - a highly unusual forum for a pope.
The Vatican under Benedict has tried to make greater use of modern communications, embracing the blogosphere and social media networks.
In the pre-recorded interview, the pope also urged "all sides" in the conflict in Ivory Coast to renounce violence following months of conflict.
"I have to say that I have received heartbreaking letters from the Ivory Coast in which I see the sorrow, the depth of suffering, and I am saddened that I can do so little," the pope added.
He also called on Iraqi authorities to ensure the dwindling Christian minority in that country is protected.
"All the institutions that truly have the possibility to do something in Iraq for you should do it," the pope said in answer to a question from the Christian community on how to encourage Christians not to flee Iraq.
In another question, an Italian mother asked: "Has the soul of my son Francesco, who has been in a vegetative coma since Easter Sunday 2009, left his body seeing that he is no longer conscious, or is it still near him?"
The woman was shown asking her question next to her son in a hospital.
"Certainly his soul is still present in his body. The situation, perhaps, is like that of a guitar whose strings have been broken and therefore can no longer play," the pope responded.
"The instrument of the body is fragile like that, it is vulnerable, and the soul cannot play, so to speak, but remains present," he said.
The broadcast came on the day that Christians commemorated the death of Jesus Christ and just over a week before a ceremony on May 1 that will put Benedict's late predecessor John Paul II on the path to sainthood.
The interview was recorded last week in a Vatican library. Italian public broadcaster RAI said it had received 2000 questions for the program.
None of the questions selected dealt with the scandal of paedophile priests - which has badly damaged the image of the Church in recent years.
Easter Week last year was dominated by the shocking revelations of child abuse scandals, with a number of gaffes by priests and cardinals.
Addressing the upcoming beatification of his predecessor, the pope on Thursday said the Church has both "shameful mistakes and luminous examples".
Related Article:
"A Summary" – Apr 2, 2011 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: 2012, Currencies, Water Cycle (Mini Ice Ace, Oceans, Fish, Earthquakes ..), EU, South America, Middle East, Internet, Israel, Palestine, Japan (Quake/Tsunami Disasters , People, Society ...), Nuclear Power, Hydro Power, Geothermal Power, Moon, Financial Institutes, China, North Korea, Global Unity,..... etc.)
"The Quantum Factor" – Apr 10, 2011 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Galaxies, Universe, Intelligent design, Benevolent design, Aliens, Tesla (Quantum energy), Planetary travel, DNA, Stem cells, Religion, Nuclear Power, Rejuvenation, Africa, China, Global Unity.. etc.) - New