Pope Benedict Can't Type?

It seems there’s a little communications FAIL over at the Vatican.

According to a Catholic News Agency report on February 8, a “Vatican insider” confided that the Pope does not own a private jet—that in fact, the Vatican had neither the space nor the money to maintain one.  Instead, he travels via commercial airlines—departing from Rome on Alitalia, and returning on a commercial airline based in the country he visited.

Father Gonzalo Meza, a Mexican priest and journalist, confirmed that report recently, while discussing Pope Benedict XVI’s planned trip to Mexico on March 23-25.  Nearly 100 people, mostly journalists, will accompany the Pope aboard his flights.  Security during his visit will be provided by the host country.

But now here’s the thing:   Father Meza explained that during a long overseas flight, Pope Benedict

“…takes the opportunity to get ahead on his intellectual work or to pray. He likes to write, and he writes all of his homilies and speeches by hand, and then his translator transcribes and corrects them. He almost never uses a computer.”

Say what?!

Don’t you remember this photo?

On June 29, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI hit a button on his iPad and launched the new Vatican website, news.va.  He tweeted the announcement to his 31,000 followers from around the world, saying:

“Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI.”

For that, he was applauded around the world.  But just for a minute, I can’t help imagining some human resources director from my distant past, asking him the question which young ladies were routinely asked in the 1960s:

So, Your Holiness, I’ve no doubt you’re well qualified for the job. But can you type?

[JUST KIDDING!]