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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Oriana Fallaci gifts pontifical school in will |
| 2006-10-21 |
| EFL Oriana Fallaci had described the pontiff as an ally in her campaign to rally Christians in Europe against what she saw as a Muslim crusade against the West. As she battled breast cancer last year, she had a private audience with Benedict, who was elected only a few months earlier, at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. In one of her final interviews, Fallaci told The Wall Street Journal: "I am an atheist, and if an atheist and a pope think the same things, there must be something true." Benedict was surprised by the gift of the books, which dated back as far as the 17th century and included volumes about the formation of modern-day Italy, American history, philosophy and theology, said Monsignor Rino Fisichella, rector of the Pontifical Lateranense University in Rome. "The veneration that she had for you, Holy Father, persuaded her to make this donation, which will be known as the Oriana Fallaci Archives," Fisichella said during a ceremony at the university Saturday to announce the gift of the books. Benedict greeted Fallaci's nephew and his family during the ceremony, according to the Italian news agency ANSA. He then spoke briefly about the search for truth in science and academia. "God is the ultimate truth to which all reason naturally gravitates," the pontiff told an audience of students and faculty. The real message here is that Pope Benedict publically accepted the Fallaci archive just a few days after receiving the "open letter" from 38 Muslim scholars. How I love and admire this man. |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #2 Fallaci was a world treasure in clear thinking about the future Islamic peril. I think God will bless her whether she believes or not |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-10-21 19:59 |
| #1 "I am an atheist, and if an atheist and a pope think the same things, there must be something true." Indeed. How lovely that she gifted her library to a place where it should be safe no matter what the rest of Europe allows to happen to itself. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-10-21 19:05 |