Posted on 04/20/2008 10:37:32 PM PDT by Stoat
Sunday, April 20th 2008, 4:00 AM
There's one very unusual biography of Pope Benedict - a children's book, supposedly written by his cat.
"Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told by a Cat" is a 36-page illustrated book that chronicles the life of Benedict through the words of his cat, Chico.
"I'm meeting you in the pages of this book to tell you a story about my very best friend, a wonderful man with whom I've shared so many happy times," Chico says.
"I want to tell you about where he comes from, how devoted he is to his studies and his work, what is he doing now."
The book, of course, wasn't actually written by a cat. It was penned by Italian journalist Jeanne Perego. It was illustrated by Donata Dal Molin Casagrande and features an introduction by the Rev. Georg Ganswein, the Pope's personal secretary.
The book begins with the Holy Father's birth in Bavaria, Germany, in 1927. Chico explains that Benedict and his family moved many times during his childhood. In a surprising passage, Chico describes how Joseph Ratzinger, the man who would become Pope Benedict, joined the seminary in 1939.
"At the beginning, Joseph was not enthusiastic at all about living in a community," Chico says. "He could not concentrate on his studies and it felt as if he had lost his freedom."
The book also touches on Benedict's service in the German Army during World War II.
"During that period, Joseph was forced to do something that went absolutely against his will: join the army and go off to war," Chico says.
The book's message is "stay faithful and committed in life, without getting discouraged when difficulties arise."
Chico no longer lives with the Pope because animals aren't allowed at his house in the Vatican.
The cat now stays with a neighbor near Benedict's former home in Bavaria.
I will be getting a copy of the book myself. =^..^=
4chan image macros coming in... 4...3...2...1...
POPE CAT IZ NOT AMUZED
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.