Break-Dancers Perform For The Pope, Get His Blessing

AP ^ | January 26, 2004 | The Associated Press

[Francisco]

VATICAN CITY -- In an unusual spectacle at the Vatican, Pope John Paul II presided Sunday over a performance of break-dancers who leaped, flipped and spun their bodies to beats from a tinny boom box.

The 83-year-old pontiff seemed to approve, waving his hand after each dancer completed a move, then applauding for the entire group. He watched the performance from a raised throne.

"For this creative hard work I bless you from my heart," he said.

During the show, one dancer -- part of a Polish group that helps poor and marginalized youths -- planted his head on the inlaid marble floor of the Vatican hall and spun to loud applause from his group and from Vatican officials. Another performer flung his body around in a series of spins and handstands.

"Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it," John Paul said.

Earlier Sunday, members of an Italian Catholic youth organization enthusiastically cheered the pope's weekly remarks in St. Peter's Square. A few were invited into his papal apartment and helped him release doves from his window.

The pope, who suffers numerous ailments but appeared relatively strong Sunday, called out to the other children cheering below his window.

"I love you all. I love you very much," he said.

[protest1]

Hmmmm... what a wast of time you would think he had better things to do than this.

[AnAmericanMother]

Our Lady's Juggler

They saw Barnabas before the image of the Holy Virgin, his head on the floor and his feet in the air, juggling with six copper balls and twelve knives. In honor of the Holy Virgin he was performing the tricks which had in former days brought him the greatest fame. Not understanding that he was thus putting his best talents at the service of the Holy Virgin, the aged brothers cried out against such sacrilege. The Prior knew that Barnabas had a simple soul, but he believed that the man had lost his wits. All three set about to removed Barnabas from the chapel, when the saw the Virgin slowly descend from the alter and, with a fold of her blue mantle, wipe the sweat that streamed over the juggler's forehead.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

"Amen," echoed the brothers, bowing down to the floor.

[Aquinasfan]

I saw that on the news last night...one of the weirdest spectacles I've ever seen.

Incongruous, yes. But as long as it wasn't accompanied by rap music, I don't see any problem. As far as dance/athleticism goes, it's pretty impressive.

[Aquinasfan]

This sort of sordid display can only hold the Pope, the Vatican and the Church up to ridicule.

Sordid? You're sounding awfully... dogmatic.

[sine_nomine]

altar - not alter.

I noticed that the original web page had it wrong, too.

An alter call might be an invitation to become a gelding.

[hgro]

Why isn't the Pope in his declining years cleaning the pedophiles and queers out of the Catholic Clergy instead of watching "break" dancing.

[sitetest]

Dear Francisco,

Having seen folks do breakdancing on the streets in Washington, DC, I have to say, it's fun stuff. I don't see it differently from entertainments like juggling or spinning plates on poles, or other physically-demanding and entertaining amusements.

These things require some talent, some skill, and a whole lot of practice. They are enjoyable to watch, and of themselves, quite innocent.

That the pope would wish to enjoy them, and honor those who make the effort to accomplish these entertaining skills doesn't seem so awful to me. When I look at the pictures of Pope John Paul watching the breakdancers, I see the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Catholic Church enjoying a more innocent aspect of human culture.

And that is a good thing.


sitetest

[saradippity]

Thanks for that story.I have heard variations of it for years and for some reason it always brings tears to my eyes.

Bottom line,the message I took from the story was that no matter how meagre and insignificant our gifts or talents might be,we should offer God the best we have to give Him. Barnabas,or the unamed monk in other stories,could juggle.

Could be that these Polish dancers offered the best skills and talents they had.

[Francisco]

How does crap like break dancing even GET an audience with the pope?

He's had far worse audiences than break dancers...

Excerpt from the CRC...INTEGRISM? THE LAST DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH!

It seems that you do not detest the integrists. But the only man who made you "weary", according to Malinski's truthful biography of you, was Mgr Lefebvre. "– 'The Pope wishes to see you. But don't speak with him for too long because he is very weary. He received Mgr Lefebvre today. Just greet him and come back.' – I entered the chapel, which I already knew. The Pope, who was kneeling, raised his head. His face looked very weary. 'How are things going in Poland?' he murmured." (Op. cit. p.209) We had already been cast as Paul VI's torturers. These poor popes who have to endure the attacks of those accursed integrists! And what great charity on their part not to answer them, but to forgive and say nothing! Precisely, to say nothing... The legend will arrange things in your favour.

     But a few pages further on, there you are full of health and optimism again, in the company of your dear Maliniski, who is deploring the misunderstanding that had deprived you of an interesting and pleasant meeting with the Communist guerrilla poet-priest, Ernesto Cardenal. "A wave of anger rises up within me, and I am very upset: – 'It is a monstrous misunderstanding that must be cleared up.' – I am furious, because I realise the prejudice shown against this poet (sic) and against the Holy Father. I do not know who is to blame. Is it bad will, or is it plain stupidity?" (Ibid. p.212-213)

     The gaffe committed by your staff will soon be repaired. A few days later you will receive with great manifestations of sympathy, gifts, and encouragement the terrorist leaders of South Africa, taking a keen interest in their Marxist guerrilla warfare (Il Messagero, 1st Dec 1978). A fine impartiality, that! Such people never "weary" you, nor do they "persecute" you!

     It is we who are your assassins. Yes! We are Ali Agca. You went over what Frossard had written, and you charitably allowed him to write: "A right-wing extremist… one of those terrorists who form into small groups that are intoxicated on a macabre dialectic," etc. (N'ayez pas peur, p.332-333) We are the sons of Cain; you are Abel the just. "The good attracts the evil, and when Abel's fidelity reaches a certain degree of splendour, his brother will furtively arm himself." And if he fails, he will start again. The following year. At Fatima! "A priest from the group of monks who form a secret league attempted to kill him with cold steel, and only just missed. The state of mind of an integrist who feels it to be his duty to kill a pope – that is, to loosen the stone on which his whole edifice stands – is truly indecipherable." They are monsters, all of them, these integrists, these fascists, these nazis…

     Thus, while you were calling the Muslim assassin your "brother" – following the orders of the KGB, evidence of which I immediately set out for very clear reasons (CRC, May 1981) – you allowed the world's mass media to stone with homicidal accusations those of your "sons on the Right". Alas, it is only on the Right that such wretches are to be found. The following year, the fury was orchestrated again, but not a single gesture or a single expression was given by you to squash the lie conveyed by this bogus assassination attempt. It was all staged in order to stoke up hatred against us – hatred from our brothers, and from you too no doubt. At the time – and I was the only one to say so (CRC, June 1982, The Supreme Deception) – I proved the bogus character of the Fatima assassination attempt, which has since been confirmed by the tribunal of Vila Nova de Ourem held on the 21st April with judgement passed on the 2nd May. All this can be learned in France through reading Présent of the 23rd April and the 4th May, but this information was smothered by the world press and deliberately concealed by La Croix, the KGB journal for the French language, on the 23rd April.

     This integrist priest brandishing a bayonet against the Pope, what a find! Is fecit cui prodest.

     Let us turn again to dear Frossard, who, as everyone knows, is charity itself. This time, we find his confidences in the pages of Paris Match: "The Pope told me". "As he seemed curious to know what I meant by the term 'integrist', I answered him in these words, 'Holy Father, an integrist is one who always does the will of God, whether God wants it or not.'" And you laughed with him at this homicidal accusation, which the millions who read this vile magazine will take as their religion.

     Ah, what a fine show of impartiality from this conciliar and postconciliar papacy! But God will judge you, Most Holy Father – you and your Frossard! As the Magnificat puts it so well: God will show the strength of his arm to put down the mighty from their thrones, even from their holy sees. He will scatter the proud of heart and exalt the humble! Tremble, you judges, who fail to give judgement and who crush the weak!

     I know all these "integrists" whom you are talking about. They are not very numerous, but these are the people you calumniate. Their first concern is to profess the Catholic faith and to remain attached to the Church. They are devoted to the three things, which for them summarise, guarantee and provide all truth, all strength and all happiness: the Holy Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Father. Yes, the Pope! They have not started anything, nor mounted any attack, but they themselves have been constantly criticised, harassed and vilified. They have not defended themselves against attack, they have not made any ambitious claims, nor have they been won over to deceit or violence. They have only defended the Creed, which others were attacking and destroying. They have stood up for the sacred character of the sacraments – in particular, the truth and validity of the Holy sacrifice of the Mass – and for the respect and maintenance of the true Catholic religion. Finally, and in so far as they could, they have defended unity centred on the Pope, and general respect and veneration for the papacy.

     You will only find weakness there, Most Holy Father; so weak that we can be squashed like flies. We shall never leave the Church, nor shall we resort to any kind of violence against her. Besides, we are without power, we have no control over public opinion and have no money, other than for subsistence. This party is nothing, can do nothing and has nothing. Yet it is here, and only here, that you will find today's confessors of the faith.

[AnAmericanMother]

Man, after formatting all that stuff, linking the page and posting the picture, I confess that I failed to proofread the copy.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!

(pppppbbbbbbbbbbttttttttttt! ;-) )

[TheSpottedOwl]

As Pope John Paul II's health steadily declines, I sometimes wonder if he is aware of the statements coming out of the Vatican, or the depth of the crisis in American churches.

I'm not sure about what to make about that article. It's a little confusing.

[searchandrecovery]

Or do you think the Pope did not approve of the film?

I think (full transparency - I don't know for sure, wasn't there) that the Pope enjoyed the film and made the quote. But that the Vatican spin-doctors mangled it.

I can see your point about the ad, though - funny. Of course, such endorsements could open up whole new revenue streams for the Church...

[Destructor]

Well...he didn't dare "diss" 'em!

[searchandrecovery]

...the Pope was heard to say, "What it is!"

Nicely done - LOL.

[pgkdan]

Break Dancing at the Vatican? This is CRAZY! Next thing you know somebody will show up with an accordion and a Polka will break out!!

That would be MUCH more dignified!

[patriot_wes]

I was very impressed....(sick)

[presidio9]

While any instance of pedophilia is unacceptable, the credibly accused make up less than 0.1% of the priests in this country. To repeat, any instance is unacceptable, but your perception is colored by an active liberal campaign to discredit the most pro-life, anti-homosexual, pro-private schooling, pro-private charity organization on the planet.

[JesseHousman]

Or do you think the Pope did not approve of the film?

A pope that approves of break-dancing might approve of most anything.

It isn't just the insane dancing, if you'll recall a few years ago the pope was in the polynesian islands watching bare-breasted young nubiles dancing for his enjoyment. He approved of that as well.

I believe this pontiff gave Martin Scorsese an audience not too long ago. I wonder if the holy father approved of Martin's Last Temtation of Christ picture?

I don't believe Christ is happy with His Church and how opportunites have been squandered!

[Old Professer]

Is it White Smoke time yet?

[FreedomPoster]

"The Pope tries out his new Saruman-like powers on a penitent"