From the IOR to the gay lobby: Pope Francis tells all on flight from Rio to Rome

Vatican Insider - LaStampa ^ | 07/29/2013 | Andrea Tornielli

[haffast]

"On flight from Rio de Janeiro to Rome"

Journalists fired improvised questions at the Pope for one hour and twenty minutes. The Pope agreed to hold the press conference straight after take-off, despite how tired he was after an eventful World Youth Day week in Brazil. Francis surprised journalists with his willingness to answer all questions put to him, even those which touched on really thorny issues like the reform of the Vatican Bank (IOR), the Ricca case, the gay lobby, Vatileaks and even the content of the black leather bad he carried on to the plane which flew him to Brazil last week. This article captures some of what was said on the flight back to Rome today, a conversation which shows how truly at ease Francis is with journalists. It is clear he had decided right from the start to hold a press conference on the return flight instead of the outgoing one, so as to prevent his comments from overshadowing the World Youth Day events. This was further confirmation of the Pope’s ability to communicate and shows he does not need any spin doctors to bolster his image.

snip

[haffast]

Long article spread over five pages, note page links at bottom of PAGE ONE.

[TexGrill]

I have new admiration for Pope Francis. It’s not easy answering the tough questions in a press conference. It’s sort of like being thrown in a cage where a crowd of goons can keep jabbing their sticks at you, and you’re job is to pretend it doesn’t bother you. It’s unpleasant, but reporters actually respect the poltician more after a good grilling. They would say we threw everything and the kitchen sink at him and he still won’t quit, that’s impressive and a good story too.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Talkative little guy, isn't he?

[MrChips]

So much like Obama! (NOT!)

[AZLiberty]

... even the content of the black leather bag he carried onto the plane which flew him to Brazil last week

It contains the "Hail Mary" football.

[haffast]

"Talkative little guy, isn't he?

They had already seen all the movies on the trip to Rio.

[IncPen]

"You've been a great audience. Try the veal.."

_{One wonders what it would take to get the American press to ask a real question..."}

[kingu]

One wonders what it would take to get the American press to ask a real question...

It would take requiring the White House to accept any reporter credentialed by the Congressional Press Office and holding a daily lottery for seats in the White House briefing room. A lottery for every seat, and each press briefing open question session starts at seat one and goes from there.

You want to see the claws come out? That's how you do it. You put Fox and CBS and ABC on the same footing as 'The Daily Breeze.' No reporter would survive tossing out softballs to the podium, or pre-planned questions to the teleprompter.