God's gift to women (But they don't have a prayer)

NY Daily News ^ | August 23, 2006 | MARK ELLWOOD and JACOB E. OSTERHOUT

[NYer]

Ladies, here's one more man you won't be getting.

The Rev. Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, the Pope's private secretary, has become the first papal pinup.

Gorgeous Georg, as Gaenswein is often called, has movie-star looks - he has been compared to George Clooney and Hugh Grant - and a charismatic character that's been gaining him many female fans.

The 50-year-old has been called "divinely handsome" by Maria Luisa Agnese, editor of the Italian magazine Corriere. And the former Italian first lady once congratulated the Pope on live television for choosing the Black Forest Adonis.

He has been photographed in tennis shorts and Nike outfits while exercising - he plays soccer, canoes and even flies airplanes. A member of an exclusive ski club in the Austrian Alps, he hits the slopes so gracefully that he has been named honorary ski master of the Courmayeur ski school. The stylish, debonair cleric has even been accused of imparting a few fashion tips to his boss.

"He is young and good-looking and unavailable," says Malena Calzetta, 27, who lives in Milan. "A lot of women want what they can't have. It makes them feel dramatic - like they are in the movies. Plus, he plays tennis. How many people in the church play tennis?"

But while Gaenswein cuts loose during his free time, he's all business on the job. Within the Catholic Church he's known as a staunch conservative, an impressive theologian who adheres strictly to doctrine. He's considered part of a rising German influence within the Vatican that's taken form with Benedict XVI's ascension.

[NYer]

Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful as his secretary Georg Gaenswein, 2nd from right, smiles in front of the Old Chapell in Regensburg, southern Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006. German-born Pope Benedict XVI pays a six-day visit to his native homeland Bavaria from Sept. 9 to Sept. 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle)

[NYer]

Pope Benedict XVI is helped by his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein as he puts on his scarf during a weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican in this August 2, 2006 file photo. To match feature story WITNESS POPE REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/Files (VATICAN)

[trisham]

Handsome is as handsome does. :)

[Mrs. Don-o]

In high school we used to call our handsome chaplain "Fr. What'a'Waste"

[PandaRosaMishima]

Georg is one delicious-looking dish!
All the same, it's Papa Benedict who makes my heart go pitty-pat! (in the good way of course) I do get a thrill watching him stand and speak during the Wednesday audience; his voice is quite charming, "Dear Brozhers und Sisters in Christ..."

[trisham]

Who knows? Perhaps it will bring those to the Church who might otherwise not have developed an interest. "God works in mysterious ways". :)

[Tax-chick]

he has been compared to George Clooney and Hugh Grant

Both of whom are metrosexual dinglebobs. (That's so European ...) Surely Father Gaenswein is more masculine than THAT.

[samiam1972]

He is a cutie. However, "Within the Catholic Church he's known as a staunch conservative, an impressive theologian who adheres strictly to doctrine." impresses me so much more!!

[NYer]

his voice is quite charming, "Dear Brozhers und Sisters in Christ..."

Lol ... you do that so well. :-)

[franky]

Reminds me of my fiance, now my wife's instruction to become a Catholic. This was before RCIA and when a priest would take one or a few each week to instruct. In those days layman did not teach.

My wife was an RN at Columbia Presbyterian in Washington Heights, NY at the time and would attend St Rose of Lima on 165th St. every Wednesday.

The first time I met the Priest I did a double take. He looked like Tyrone Power, who was popular at the time. My wife said that all the nurses would go to Mass only when he celebrated. Well I quickly got my wife to attend a different Church, of course after she made her confirmation in St. Pat's Cathedral. LOL

[Jaded]

H2aH*.5 Thanks for the post.

[IIntense]

Fr. What'a'Waste

And were your fingers crossed behind your back?

"You DO have a sense of humor, Lord, don't you?" LOL

[xzins]

Not meaning to be terribly rude, but since the issue is looks....

This Pope needs to do something about those black bags under his eyes (sometimes all around them)

I'd suggest he either give up boxing, or that he start getting some sleep.

He looked really creepy in that floppy cowboy hat the other day....like a raccoon that had raided the movie set wardrobe trailor.

(This is my 23 Fatwa of the day. I have now reached my limit.)