Pope Benedict XVI: The Man Really CAN Work Miracles
Visit to Small Italian Town is Proof Positive!
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new sidewalks have been laid down in the city center.
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roads have been repaired leading in and out of the city.
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several old and nasty looking buildings have been torn down.
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a new park is being constructed.
These are just a handful of city upgrades currently in the works. My question -- is this the work of fate, mere coincidence or divine intervention? Personally, I believe that his Holiness (formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) has some serious clout not ONLY with the BIG MAN upstairs but also with Brindisi's mayor. Because how else can you explain all the improvements springing up in and around the city? Improvements that common citizens have been clamoring about for years yet up until now never received one iota of attention?
I'm not sure what this phenomenon is called. I want to say "commercialism" but I don't think that quite sums it up. "Hypocrisy" or something that borders on it probably comes closer to the point. But I've noticed that in general - whenever a really important person comes to visit or an important event is staged, the host city in question gets a real makeover and usually in a hurry. Such is the power of the human spirit. Or perhaps the power of tax-payer dollars.
The city of Brindisi doesn't get many big visitors, which is unfortunate. I think the last important VIP (at least in the eyes of the locals) was Benito Mussolini. And even then - guess what happened? Guy shows up - and the city builds a fountain in his name. Well 'ol Benito has come and gone and his contributions to Italy have been questionable to say the least - but darn if that fountain isn't still spraying water on everyone 60 years later.
Pope Benedict XVI is coming to Brindisi on the 14th of June and the city is rising to the occasion. The city's public works division is falling over itself trying to get the town squared away and fast. In a culture bent on getting things done "domani" (tomorrow) the Pope's visit is like a shot in the arm.
Or at least a kick in the butt.
I'm all for it. In fact I think the Pope should visit more often. Although his message for peace may not hit its mark like it would in say -- Washington, D.C. (I'm thinking the folks in these parts would rather hear about new jobs than they would about the war in Iraq), the Pope will certainly save a few souls along the way and in true biblical fashion his mere presence will help bring about change: long after he's returned to the Vatican, the townsfolk will be remembering Pope Benedict XVI every time they walk on the new sidewalks in downtown Brindisi or drive on the city's newly re-paved roads.
And they'll probably mumble - - Pope Benedict XVI: that guy really CAN work miracles.
Published by Gary Picariello
I've traveled the world as a Broadcast Journalist working for the American Forces Radio & Television Service in the United States Air Force. Now happily retired after 23 years of service, and currently livin... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentGreat reporting. I was so excited when I found out he was coming, but I live in California. So close but yet so far. Grea job
Great reporting in this article, Gary. Very nicely done.
soz harold, thought ur last name was stink
Divine Intervention, huh? hehe Great article, Gary.
Ha! I'm tempted to re-christen the Mayor of Brindisi (what a name for a city! Prost!) 'Il Potemkino'... ;o) Very glad to hear the city is being improved for the occasion, Gary, whatever the motive is behind it. Thanks for another excellent report! :o)
Yes, Gary, it's all politics. Look at what happens when a city hosts an Olympic games. If it's a small city, an entire village goes up almost overnight. It it's a big city, there's a huge influx of tourism and everything gets spruced up. This is generally a good thing. Politics, yes. Divine intervention, no. As a non-Catholic, I think Benedict is a very positive influence on the world stage, and he seems surprisingly personable, though in a more low-key way than the charismatic John Paul II. When Benedict starts raising the dead and curing the sick, then he'll be a miracle worker. Until then, he's just a man, however holy.
That's about the size of it. This happens all over the US. Major baseball scouts starting taking note of the larger number of stars coming out of Oklahoma, and the capital city gets a new stadium. Still minor league. Tulsa did something for Carmen the religious pop Icon. Dallas, TX builds stuff all the time to prove it can be bigger. Okay, that's not the same.
I am willing to bet that if the Pope came to Allen, TX, all of a sudden the 20 some odd building projects going on would mysteriously get done in a matter of months rather than the number of years that have been projected.