The Skiing Pope

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

So, I'm listening to the Catholic Channel on the way home from work, and they are talking about Pope Francis, security and riding the bus, and then they refer back to an earlier discussion about a Pope who liked to ski. I didn't catch who, so I've been looking into it.
The Skiing Pope
But that's not all..I found this too:
The Pope praises skiing because it makes us 'feel small' - Telegraph
Wow...I can't describe how cool I think this is.

 

[D'Ann]

I agree. I was watching the news and they mentioned that he enjoyed skiing and hockey and that he had a girlfriend. I thought, cool... except, well, not sure about the girlfriend thing. I think that he "had" a girlfriend in the past tense is something that I missed. LOL

Anyway, I think he is cool too and it's good imho that a pope knows how to enjoy life and has had prior experience in living life in a good way. I think it adds to his spiritual being, which adds to us... in his homilies and in his ability to relate to the average person...

For me, it's about, is he a good person... a good father that is able to lead the Church.. and I think he is as far as what I know. That means also how much he needs us to keep him in our prayers too as we should do anyway. My bad... I don't pray enough for our Church and their leaders.

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

I like hearing little bits about the Pope's hobbies, interests, and personalities. The same radio program was also discussing Pope Benedict playing the piano wearing a blue track suit...and the image was pretty cool.

The skiing is a bit of a big deal to me, because I'm not one who has had many of what one could call experiences of God. The closest may have been on the slopes one day by myself...stopped to enjoy a view that I'm blessed to get to experience, then with Morning has Broken playing in my head began to finally understand the stillness of flying down a mountain.

Skiing has also helped repair and heal a broken family in my case...so hearing that the past few Popes get a bit of what I find out there is really amazing to me.

Zakopane, Poland: skiing with divine guidance - Telegraph

Taking a quick schuss with a Pope...well that would be something.

 

[Michie]

Great articles! I also like to hear about the personal interests of the popes. I think JPII hiked & skied, loved the outdoors...there is more but he had many interests.

Pope Bene, piano, cats, books.

Gotta love them.

 

[tadoflamb]

I recall a story of JPII sneaking out of the Vatican to hit the slopes.

I used to x-country ski a lot when I lived in Montana. My wife and I were skiing in N. AZ a couple of weekends ago. I love the stillness and silence when your way back in the woods in the winter.

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

I recall a story of JPII sneaking out of the Vatican to hit the slopes.

I used to x-country ski a lot when I lived in Montana. My wife and I were skiing in N. AZ a couple of weekends ago. I love the stillness and silence when your way back in the woods in the winter.

You lived up here...cool! I like the cross country skiing too, wish I had a bit more time for it and snowshoeing. Sounds weird to say but winter is just too short.

 

[Davidnic]

I remember on one visit to America he took batting practice in a cage. I went to find the video and was happy someone did a recent article on it
Watch Pope John Paul II Unleash His Swing in the Batting Cage | Bleacher Report

 

[chilehed]

"One would say that the one billion faithful in the Catholic Church would deserve to have a better model of Our Lord Jesus Christ as His Vicar on earth..."

Really? Complaining that the Holy Father is wearing clothing appropriate to skiing, when he's actually skiing? What loonies...

 

[chilehed]

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