(23 Jul 09 - RV) Pope Benedict continues his period of rest in Les Combes of Introd,
Northern Italy. In his daily update, Vatican Press Office Director Fr Federico
Lombardi gave a glimpse of one of the more intimate moments of the Pope’s vacation
period, describing one of the rare and un-programmed encounters between the Pope and
families from the local community. He described how last night during his usual
evening walk, near the village of Les Combes Pope Benedict came upon a group of five
children, accompanied by their mothers, with whom he stopped to share a few words.
During the course of the conversation one of the children described to the Pope how
in winter-time his home in the Rhemes Valley, is covered by snow reaching up to 6
metres in depth, at which the Holy Father expressed his surprise and wonder. The
anecdote gives an idea of the moments of light relief enjoyed by the Pope during his
period of rest in the Alpine Valley of Aosta. But as the Pope himself informed journalists,
the two weeks, which draw to a close on July 29th, will also be spent at
work. In fact Fr Lombardi reports that on Thursday Pope Benedict dedicated quite
some time to studying documents brought him Wednesday by Secretary of State Cardinal
Bertone. All of this despite his current wrist injury. Fr Lombardi also informs
that a portable X-ray machine has been brought to the wooden Chalet where the Pope
is staying, from the local hospital in the capital town Aosta, to check up on the
Holy Father’s progress in recovery. On Friday Pope Benedict XVI will make the
second programmed public appearance of this vacation period, when he will join the
Christian community in the cathedral of Aosta for evening prayer.