The pope. Popeing about.

[benneh]

So, I thought, being as I'm in Brum, I might have a trip over and watch the pope next Sunday, doing his god thing. I'm not a religious person, but I like a day out, and I imagine it will be a decent crowd.

Anyway, I started to sniff around, as to how a person goes about attending these things, assuming that I might just park nearby and walk up to the park, have a wonder around etc.
Nein!, it turns out that there's a whole freaking rigmarole. I would have to contact a priest, get into bed with a bunch of god botherers, travel by coach, sign over my soul, etc etc.. Clicky

Does this not seem a little insane?.
Just to give an idea; it costs £25 per person, you cannot attend individually, rather you have to contact a local priest, who in turn passes on your details to a coordinator, who then assigns you to a group (pilgrim group) - of which there is a 'leader' who will vouch for you at various security checkpoints during the journey, which you all have to make in coaches..

Brum's a pretty big place, fairly diverse in terms of religion and whatnot; would it not make sense for this to be an easily accessible event?. Especially for the dwindling catholic contingent.. I realise that this is a 'pilgrimage' of sorts, but man.. Why can't I go see the guy in white robes telling us all to get along?.

For a peadophile harboring ex-nazi, isn't this going a little far?.

 

[whitecrook]

He's coming here on the 16th. Personally I am avoiding. There's going to be chaos.

 

[Jambo]

I think all this Pope stuff is ACTUAL insanity. I don't understand it at all.

 

[lawz]

Personally I dont understand why people accept he is 'holy' just because a load of old men voted for him.

 

[Feef]

Seems you weren't the only one - Thousands of Pope tickets unsold. That pleases me - though them suspending bus routes and closing off streets in Edinburgh doesn't, on one day I actually need to be over that side of town. Pff.

 

[WingZero30]

Personally I dont understand why people accept he is 'holy' just because a load of old men voted for him.

hahahaha spot on .

 

[MrMoonX]

hes milking our tax money, as for some stupid reason we are all paying for his security, I thought the vatican had enough money of its own

 

[Edrof]

hes milking our tax money, as for some stupid reason we are all paying for his security, I thought the vatican had enough money of its own

Probably because a section of the populace is Catholic.

 

[molinari]

Whilst he's here he is staying in Wimbledon Village, about a mile away from me. I very much hope his stay doesn't result in even more traffic problems in the local area!

 

[Hellsmk2]

I like that hardly anyone cares about a nazi, child abuse supporting, backwards thinking pope visiting this country.

It's been particularly pleasing to see nothing but bad press surrounding his visit.

 

[^TANK^]

Will he be in some form of bullet proof booth or something, when he visits?


I wish father Jack was the pope .

 

[semi-pro waster]

For a peadophile harboring ex-nazi, isn't this going a little far?.

I suspect statements like that might have something to do with the increased security and worries that surround this particular visit... Whether you're simply being flippant or not there are serious concerns about the safety of the Pope on any official visit, having the leader of the World's Catholics murdered on your watch is not a good calling card when it comes to arranging visits for other dignitaries.

It's something that might be interesting to see but I'm not going to go out of my way to see the Pope from a great distance and if the arrangements are correct this sounds like a lot of extra effort.

Will he be in some form of bullet proof booth or something, when he visits?

Unfortunately I don't know if they're reinstating the Popemobile for this visit, I hope so but they may just use an ordinary bullet-proofed car instead.

 

[wozzizname]

It hardly sounds as if he's trying to 'reach out' to the general population by the sound of those arrangements, which makes you wonder why the heck we'll be footing such a massive bill for his security. After all, the Vatican isn't short of cash.

 

[Emlyn_Dewar]

It's a shame this visit is happening because all it's doing for the vast majority is causing traffic issues and general hassle.
Religion. Even when you stay away from it, it still finds a way to cause grief.
This is 2010, not the dark ages, this old man shouldn't be famous in any way.

Edit: £12 million could be the spend!? For that crusty old fool to trot around...
What benefit is this to our country?

 

[Efour]

Acquire a BB gun and see if its possible to take the shot...

 

[Von Smallhausen]

I want to ask him if he likes Dan Brown.

 

[koolpc]

I am a catholic and i am disgusted by the amount of money that is being paid out to accomodate the rich white cloaked guy from the Vat!!! Disgusting!!

 

[Sonea Fifer]

Seems you weren't the only one - Thousands of Pope tickets unsold. That pleases me - though them suspending bus routes and closing off streets in Edinburgh doesn't, on one day I actually need to be over that side of town. Pff.

We're in the same boat - the one day my OH needs to be in Edinburgh at the hospital for 11:00 and they're closing off streets as the pope is coming. It'll cause chaos traffic wise and it's already upsetting many people given the fact that we're expected to foot the bill for him, his entourage and all the security that he'll require.

On a side note:

Our only hope is Obi Wan and his brave group of Jedi's

 

[Von Smallhausen]

If the pope is Palpatine ........ who is Yoda ?

 

[ringo747]

Why would you go see a guy who is ultimately responsible for deluding millions of people around the world into their money spinning racket?

That is one thing, but spending millions on getting him here and protecting him when those millions could be used to help the mess here is quite simply madness.