Pope: I Won't Wear a Bulletproof Vest

Daily Express ^ | 11/27/2006 | Chris Riches

[airborne]

This just might be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel jockeys' backs...

I doubt it. The west is finished.

Best store up canned goods and other survival gear.

[sheik yerbouty]

Ever since the visit was announced I've had that feeling...

[Silly]

Reminds me of a joke:

A woman asks her priest to pray for her son, a boxer.

He says, "Sure, lady, but it may help if he can pack a punch!"

[Centurion2000]

I've got a bad feeling about this.

I don't. An islamicist killing the Pope would be the biggest mistake muslims could make on this planet.

Because the next Pope would call for a Crusade.

[chuckles]

Does Italy have "the bomb"? Course, they would probably say the Swiss were supposed to defend him.

If the worst does happen, I wonder if we could get some help against these murderers? Like South America, Africa, and Europe. Ain't there a few Catholics left in those places? Somebody might even cut Chavez's throat for pulling for the Iranians. The Euro wussies would probably just say, "He asked for it".

[killjoy]

Usually the lower body and head of the bomber him or herself survive the blast, more or less intact. Such has been the experience in Israel anyway.

The head survives because it is popped off much like a cork flying out of a champagne bottle. It is a signature sign of a suicide bombing.

[Falconspeed]

Schedule:

Tuesday, Nov. 28
9 a.m. Departure from Rome/Fiumicino to Ankara

TURKEY
Ankara
1 p.m. Arrival at Esemboga International Airport
• Visit to the Atatürk Mausoleum
• Welcome ceremony and courtesy visit to the President of the Republic
• Meeting with the Vice Prime Minister
• Meeting with the President of Religious Affairs (Address of the Holy Father)
• Meeting with the Diplomatic Corps (Address of the Holy Father)

Wednesday, Nov. 29
Ephesus
• Holy Mass (Homily of the Holy Father)
Istanbul
• Moment of prayer at the Patriarchal Church of St. George and private meeting with H.H. Bartholomew I (Greeting of the Holy Father)

Thursday, Nov. 30
• Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St. George (Address of the Holy Father, and Joint Declaration)
• Visit to the Museum of Saint Sofia
• Visit to the Blue Mosque
• Moment of prayer at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral and meeting with H.B. Patriarch Mesrob II (Greeting of the Holy Father)

• Meeting with H.E. the Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan
• Meeting with the Grand Rabbi of Turkey
• Meeting and dinner with the members of the Catholic episcopal conference

Friday, Dec. 1
• Holy Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Homily of the Holy Father)
• Farewell ceremony at the Airport of Istanbul
• 1:15 p.m. Departure from the Airport of Istanbul to Rome