As you'll see the article says "Pope has addressed the people of the UK" but it means "addressed the today programme's share of Radio four's 9.5 million viewers" so that means he delivered it AT MOST a sixth of the UK population.
Is this because the BBC guy in charge of the today show a snivelling catholic suck up?
We know he is, so maybe.
As for the speech itself, in a departure from the more usual, sometimes provocative thoughts presented by previous guest speakers, the RCC's chief paedophile protector, the little papal pillock himself, broke the mould with the delivery of a 'thought for the day' that was completely bereft of thinking.
Check it yourself, there's a copy below for any who can't access it on the BBC website.
Every last sentence he utters is an old platitude, or retells the same 'Jesus is fab' tales that everyone already knew - the whole speech could have been edited together from bits of old speeches.
In fact it is so bereft of anything knew, it makes one wonder if Papa Rat is under the impression that British people are 'not fanatical about Jesus' because we've not heard about him or 'understood the message'.
Arrogant Dick!
I always feel there's something of old school British Empire mentality about the purveyors of monotheism...
"If they don't like it, it's not because they don't like it, it's because they've not understood... I'll repeat and SHOUT".
As a final thought, it struck as I was listening that I've heard similarly air-headed speeches before, but I couldn't figure out where until now - it's from the giggling contestants of beauty pageants who can't find things on maps.
Have a read or a listen, I'm sure you'll see it too :(
Anyway, onto the firing of blanks...
The Pope has addressed the people of the UK on Radio 4's Thought For The Day, the first time the pontiff has broadcast to the people of one country.
In his talk, recorded in the Vatican earlier this week, he said:
Recalling with great fondness my four-day visit to the United Kingdom last September, I am glad to have the opportunity to greet you once again, and indeed to greet listeners everywhere as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Our thoughts turn back to a moment in history when God's chosen people, the children of Israel, were living in intense expectation.
They were waiting for the Messiah that God had promised to send and they pictured him as a great leader who would rescue them from foreign domination and restore their freedom.
God is always faithful to his promises, but he often surprises us in the way he fulfils them.
The child that was born in Bethlehem did indeed bring liberation, but not only for the people of that time and place - he was to be the Saviour of all people throughout the world and throughout history.
And it was not a political liberation that he brought, achieved through military means; rather, Christ destroyed death forever and restored life by means of his shameful death on the Cross.
And while he was born in poverty and obscurity, far from the centres of earthly power, he was none other than the Son of God.
Out of love for us, he took upon himself our human condition, our fragility, our vulnerability and he opened up for us the path that leads to the fullness of life to a share in the life of God himself.
As we ponder this great mystery in our hearts this Christmas, let us give thanks to God for his goodness to us and let us joyfully proclaim to those around us the good news that God offers us freedom from whatever weighs us down: he gives us hope, he brings us life.
Dear Friends from Scotland, England, Wales and indeed every part of the English-speaking world. I want you to know that I keep all of you very much in my prayers this Holy Season.
I pray for your families, for your children, for those who are sick and for those who are going through any form of hardship at this time.
I pray especially for the elderly and for those who are approaching the end of their days.
I ask Christ, the light of the nations, to dispel whatever darkness there may be in your lives and to grant to every one of you the grace of a peaceful and joyful Christmas.
May God bless all of you!
Why did they waste the air time?
PEACE
Crispy
Crispy
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The best communications are often,
THREE WORDS OR LESS
OR ONE OR MORE FINGERS!
The best communications are often,
THREE WORDS OR LESS
OR ONE OR MORE FINGERS!
