For Lent, Pope Benedict suggests a fast from words and images

Published: 2008-02-08

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Inadvertently or not, Pope Benedict XVI allowed reporters to get a taste of a Lenten experience he recommended to the priests of the Diocese of Rome, "fasting from words and images." Pastors of Rome parishes and other representatives of the city's clergy have one opportunity a year to meet their bishop -- the pope -- as a group and to ask him questions. While reporters are not allowed into the annual Lenten meeting, the Vatican practice has been to pipe a slightly delayed audio broadcast of the meeting into the Vatican press office. This year, however, "the Holy Father wanted the priests to feel tranquil and free" to ask the pope whatever was on their minds, said Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the press office. The papal decision meant the journalists got no audio from the Feb. 7 meeting. However, Vatican Radio provided some brief snippets, the Vatican newspaper published a summary, and a transcript of the gathering was published the following day. Pope Benedict said fasting from words and images is needed just as much as fasting from food and abstaining from meat.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .