Who would have thought? Does anyone remember ever seeing any other Pope wearing the Gaudeamus and Laetare pink vestments? I can't even remember seeing any other priest do so. And Papa didn't publicly celebrate Mass on Gaudeamus Sunday in Advent last year so this could have been, like, the world premiere of liturgical pink!
But I must say Papa also looked so good in his ordinary Papal whites yesterday, as Sylvie's montage shows:
Photos:http://www.catholicpressphoto.com/servizi/2006-03-26-parrocchia/default.htm
And thank you all - MaryJos, Beatrice and Sylvie - for sharing the lovely enhancements which can only make us more enchanted!
P.S.
Just for the record, here is how ZENIT reported the Tor Tre Teste parochial visit:
ROME, MARCH 27, 2006 (Zenit.org).- During a visit to a parish of the Rome Diocese, Benedict XVI read passages of the last message
Pope John Paul II had written but never lived to read aloud.
His successor reread the Polish Pontiff's words at an emotional meeting Sunday with the faithful of the Parish of God the Merciful Father,
located in the eastern sector of Rome, and designed by U.S. architect Richard Meier to celebrate the Jubilee Year 2000.
This modern-looking church, which opened in 2003, receives many visits from students of architecture. The church was envisioned by John Paul II
to condense "in an effective way the meaning of that extraordinary spiritual event," the Great Jubilee.
Meditating on the mercy of the Lord, "who revealed himself totally and definitively in the mystery of the Cross, the text comes to mind
that John Paul II had prepared for the meeting last year with the faithful on Sunday, April 3," of last year, said Benedict XVI.
John Paul II's text was read to 130,000 people who took part, the day after his death, in the Mass for the repose of his soul. Archbishop
Leonardo Sandri, substitute of the Vatican Secretariat of State, presided over that Mass on April 3, 2005.
These were the words, written in the message "as a testament," which Benedict XVI recalled: "To humanity, which at times seems to be lost and
dominated by the power of evil, egoism and fear, the risen Lord offers as a gift his love that forgives, reconciles and reopens the spirit of hope.
It is love that converts hearts and gives peace."
"How much need the world has to understand and accept Divine Mercy!" wrote the Polish Pope in the text read by his successor.
Benedict XVI gave this advice to those who crowded the church: "To understand and accept God's merciful love: May this be your commitment
above all within families and then in the whole ambit of the neighborhood."
At the end of the Mass, the Pope went down to the church's hall to meet with the parish community.
"I am really happy to see that Rome, 'old Rome,' is a 'young Rome,' and really lives in lively parishes," Benedict XVI said. "Rome is young
and the Church is always young again."
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 28/03/2006 21.24]