Blessed Are the Pizzamakers, Pope Says

October 29, 2000

--------------

--------------

Message from sender:

Maybe Srila Pizzapada would be interested in this!

News Article: Blessed Are the Pizzamakers, Pope Says

ROME (Reuters) - While perhaps not quite manna from heaven,

some would at least claim it as a divine creation.

Pope John Paul, leader of the world's one billion Roman

Catholics, isn't letting on how close it is to Godliness, but

he still thinks pizza's pretty good.

Wednesday, at his weekly general audience in front of

50,000 faithful in St Peter's Square, the Pontiff gave thanks

to 2,000 pizzamakers gathered in Rome from around the world to

celebrate World Pizzamakers' Day.

"We appreciate so much your professional work," the

80-year-old Pope told the chefs drawn from as far afield as

Australia, Spain, Japan and the United States, as well as

Italy.

"I pray for your families and your particular profession,"

he added.

The dough-rollers, who made a special marrow, yellow pepper

and buffalo mozzarella pizza for the occasion (the colors of

the Vatican flag), honored the Pontiff with an antique pizza

oven, traditional plates and a decorated cutting board.

They then distributed 50,000 slices of the global delicacy

-- said to have been invented in Naples during the seventh

century -- to passers-by throughout the Eternal City.

Recommended Posts