A conversation between Rocky and his manager in Rocky II:

Gazo: How’s about investing in condominiums? It’s safe.

Rocky: Condominiums?

Gazo: Yeah, condominiums.

…Rocky: I never use ’em.

Just had a conversation with a friend of mine who’s familiar with the new interview book with the Pope, and we were laughing (albeit dryly) about the fact that there’s a whole lot more in Light of the World than condoms and it’s all far more interesting.

Some fun personal stuff:

– Benedict does NOT use the exercise bicycle set up for him.

– He watches the news.

– Favorite films: Two Suitcases: Story of St. Josephine Bakhita andan Italian movie seriesabout a fictional priest, Don Cammillo, and his archenemy the communist mayor Peppone.

– He wears a wristwatch from the 60s or 70s.

– He does not collect a salary.

The great thing about this new book, Light of the World, is that it makes clear to the world that Pope Benedict is not afraid to address difficult issues, even if people will disagree with him. In fact he expects disagreement: “If there had been nothing but approval, I would have had to ask myself seriously whether I was really proclaiming the whole Gospel.”

So who can forget the Regensburg address? As interviewer Peter Seewald notes, this lecture given on September 12, 2006, has been classified by some as “the first mistake of the pontificate.”

The elections are over and most of the ballots have been counted (hopefully, only once). But the work isn’t over. And it’s going to take a lot more than elections to change society for the better.

It’s a combination of many factors in society, not least of which are the family and education. We can elect our preferred politicians, but nothing will change without personal change and involvement.