VATICAN CITY
Huffington Post
Religion News Service | By David Gibson
Posted: 10/01/2013
(RNS) Pope Francis has done it again: Just two weeks after the publication of a lengthy, detailed interview in which he expounded on his new vision for the church he has given another interview, this time with the atheist editor of an Italian daily.
Francis had recently written an open letter to Eugenio Scalfari of La Repubblica, and then called the editor up out of the blue — as is his habit. The exchange, Scalfari wrote, went like this:
“Hello, this is Pope Francis.”
“Hello Your Holiness,” I say and then: “I am shocked. I did not expect you to call me.”
“Why so surprised? You wrote me a letter asking to meet me in person. I had the same wish, so I’m calling to fix an appointment. Let me look at my diary: I can’t do Wednesday, nor Monday, would Tuesday suit you?”
“That’s fine,” I answer.
“The time is a little awkward, three in the afternoon, is that OK? Otherwise it’ll have to be another day.”
“Your Holiness, the time is fine.”
“So we agree: Tuesday 24 at 3 o’clock. At Santa Marta. You have to come into the door at the Sant’Uffizio.”
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