Pope forgets to bless pilgrims
2005-08-17 15:57
Castel Gandolfo - Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged on Wednesday that he was absent-minded after forgetting to bless the hundreds of pilgrims who attended his weekly audience at his Castel Gandolfo summer residence.
He said his mind was already in Cologne, where he was to travel to on Thursday to participate in the 20th World Youth jamboree.
The crowd gathered in the palace courtyard was surprised to see the Pope return to his window several moments after leaving after greeting pilgrims in several languages.
"I ask for your forgiveness, but I have forgotten the most important greeting, the greeting to the pilgrims in the Italian language," he told them.
He went back inside the palace, only to return again shortly.
"Today, I have forgotten the most important things. One can see that I am already in Cologne. I omitted the most important thing: the benediction," he said while smiling before giving his blessing.
The 78-year-old pontiff's voyage to his native Germany will be his first journey abroad since his election in April.
- AFP