Pope kicks off 7-day marathon Bible reading

(October 6, 2008) Pope Benedict kicked off a seven-day, non-stop Bible reading marathon on Italian television on Sunday. The pope read for several minutes from the start of the Book of Genesis live from his apartments in the Vatican while other speakers read in the Basilica of Holy Cross in Rome. In the next seven days and six nights, more than 1,200 people will read from the Bible until all 73 books of the Catholic edition is finished. Each speaker will read for about 5-8 minutes live on TV. The second reader was from the Russian Orthodox Church and the third was an Italian protestant leader. Others on the first night included Italian politicians and artists, among them Oscar-winning actor and director Roberto Benigni. Tenor Andrea Bocelli sang between readings.
The broadcast began live on state broadcaster RAI's first channel and was to continue on one of its satellite channels. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, will conclude the marathon on Saturday, reading the last chapter of Revelation. Pope Benedict spoke about the Bible Marathon during his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ on Sunday explaining that the event is “a fitting accompaniment to the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God.” “The Word of God can thus enter into homes to accompany the lives of families and single persons: a seed that, if properly welcomed, will not fail to bear abundant fruit."