Several idiomatic phrases in Italian revolve around the papacy: there is la fumata bianca, “the white smoke” which comes from the burning of ballots which announces the successful election of a pope and is used in newspaper headlines in broader terms to refer to something getting the go-ahead;
It probably broke some teachers’ code, but I remember recording the announcement of Benedikt’s election and playing it to Y9 Latin so that they could hear Latin used for communication and recognise the accusative case - habemus Papam!
(New subscriber here - hi!) What great pictures. My attention was caught by the two military? men in the second photo with their cloaks and gloves - they look terrifically stylish!
So interesting the difference with Pope Benedict's recent funeral. He really did break with all tradition and it felt like they didn't know what to do with him.
It probably broke some teachers’ code, but I remember recording the announcement of Benedikt’s election and playing it to Y9 Latin so that they could hear Latin used for communication and recognise the accusative case - habemus Papam!
(New subscriber here - hi!) What great pictures. My attention was caught by the two military? men in the second photo with their cloaks and gloves - they look terrifically stylish!
thanks, they're Carabinieri a police force which is indeed an army regiment.
Thank you for sharing a part of your side of the world. 🌹
Wow, it is amazing you were able to take a photo of him. I'm so surprised by that. Less surprised that fewer people went to see him though.
My favourite italian Pope-related phrase si ‘ogni morte di Papa’ - once every Pope’s death
that's another good one!
The death of a Pope with no subsequent conclave is strange, less dramatic.
But no worries, there's a Speaker of the House conclave here in the USA right now, seething with drama. Delightful.
So interesting the difference with Pope Benedict's recent funeral. He really did break with all tradition and it felt like they didn't know what to do with him.