Magister on Pope Benedict's off the cuff style

Sandro Magister does it again:

ROMA, April 18, 2006 – Among the novelties he has introduced during his first year as pope – which comes to completion this Easter week – there is one that Joseph Ratzinger has a special fondness for. So much so that has repeated it several times.

It is the practice of public discussions in question and answer format. Benedict XVI arrives and greets those present, but doesn’t speak from a prepared text. He simply fields questions. And he responds to each of them, spontaneously.

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In all these cases, his words had a strong effect on those present. Even the children listened to him attentively. And the pope did the same thing behind closed doors on March 23, with the cardinals gathered for the consistory.

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But little or nothing of these dialogues between the pope and his interlocutors reaches the general public. Benedict XVI replies to each question at length and in depth, and so makes it almost impossible to extract short, flashy phrases fit for the newspaper articles.

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And yet these are texts of very noteworthy importance. Because of their spontaneity, they better permit one to enter into the pope’s mind and understand the things that are closest to his heart.

Magister goes on to give his own translation for one of Pope Benedict's Q&A sessions.

Also: Chris Blosser (Ratzinger Fan Club) has an excellent Pope Benedict Roundup.