00 02/08/2009 16:48


I came across this June 2009 item belatedly.


A question of language:
Philologist study shows that
despite conventional assumption,
Benedict XVI is 'more communicative'
than John Paul II was

Translated from



An Italian philologist has made a study comparing the discourses of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and notes some interesting differences.

For example, says Antonella Palia, the Polish Pope often refers to God in the second person singular ('familiar' you), whereas his German successor never does so.

And where John Paul II spoke about 'Christ' often, Benedict clearly uses 'Jesus' more.

Where John Paul II used 'we', Benedict XVI says 'the Church'.

Benedict XVI's sentences are 'longer and more complex' than his predecesssor's - average 27.06 words per sentence vs. 20.94.

Benedict XVI also uses scientific (rational) argumentation more often, whereas John Paul appealed more to the emotions.

The study also notes that in Italian, Benedict likes to use the adjective before the noun, as in 'eterna bonta' (eternal goodness) [Italians more often place the adjective after the noun].

In Italian, John Paul often dropped the article for greater rhetorical force, e.g., 'vero Dio incarnato per nostro amore' (true God incarnated for love of us). [I believe it's also a carry-over from Polish/Slavic syntax which generally omits the article, definite or indefinite.]

The study also looked at the body language of both Popes [through videos] and concluded that Benedict smiles more often than John Paul did, and that he delivers his discourses like a teacher, who accompanies his words with gestures. Example: When he says the word 'one', he often raises one finger.

Both Popes use the words, peace, hope and confidence frequently. The key word for the present Pope is 'love'. [The item does not metion what it was for John Paul.]

The study concludes that compared to his predecessor, Benedict XVI is more communicative, contrary to conventional wisdom.

The study was published in a June issue of the Italian magazine Lido.


[I am still trying to find the origial article online].


The people who know Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI - and us Benaddicts - would say that the study simply confirms what has been a known fact about him from his earliest days as a professor.

He is Goldmund - the German form for the Greek Chrysostomos, 'golden-mouthed' - whose lectures drew overflow crowds, which included non students, even at 8:30 in the morning, people on their way to work, who had heard the word of mouth about the priest whose lectures were always 'print-ready' and 'made you want to go to Church afterwards'.

Unfortunately, his reputation for shyness overshadowed if not completely obscured that fact in the media accounts that have become his biographical staples in the public mind. (Though where is it written that shyness necessarily precludes communication skills?)

As I commented about the Holy Father's extemporaneous homily in Aosta on July 24, the vastly over-rated Barack Obama and his fans should learn from Benedict XVI's spontaneous discourses to see what genuine eloquence is - it has nothing to do with declamatory skills while reading off a teleprompter, and everything to do with sincerity and a solid fund of knowledge and wisdom to draw from.




[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 02/08/2009 17:04]