Aside for its specialized interest to those who follow the Televised parts of Papal Travels, this Video is generally notable for being one of the first times the Holy Father has made an address, as Pope, in English. I usually watch the major public Masses during these Travels; as indicated in this Video, the Homily at the Sunday Mass in Korea is supposed to be in English—there is the problem of those times when the Pope’s Mass on TV, or via Video, conflicts with when we go to Church on Sunday at 11:00 and, of course, we miss the TV Mass to fulfill our Sunday Obligation in our home parish, but, otherwise, I intend to watch the Papal TV Mass from Korea. The use of English confirms what those of us who have spent time abroad already knew, that English is now the Universal Language that people use when they have no other language in common, as would be the case with Pope Francis, who would find it prohibitively difficult to speak in Korean, a language he does NOT know; indeed, though he had spoken in his limited English as a Bishop, he has held off speaking in English as the Bishop of Rome, possibly since his knowledge of it was so limited when he was elected Pope a year and a half ago—he must have made a considerable effort since to improve his English to the level evident in this Video. The address itself fulfills the function of a Welcoming Occasion, with the Holy Father’s usual care ‘not to forget the poor.’
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 16:09:55 +0000
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