Neighbor plans papal homecoming down to the honey on the table

Published: 2006-09-01

PENTLING, Germany (CNS) -- The neighbor who cares for Pope Benedict XVI's home in Pentling has planned the pontiff's Sept. 13 homecoming in great detail. "Waiting for him on the dining table in his house will be a very special surprise from me," said the neighbor, Rupert Hofbauer. "There will be several jars of honey from his own bees, from his own garden, and I am sure he is going to love this." For many years Hofbauer, a part-time beekeeper, has been keeping his bees in Pope Benedict's garden -- with the approval of the pope. "I know he misses his house dearly, and he told me so when I visited him in Rome" last year, Hofbauer told CNS Aug. 31. "He asked after his garden, the flowers, even the bees, and after our two animals: Chico, the cat, and Igor, the golden retriever."

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