Habemus Testudinem!
There is at least one thing about which Pope Benedict XVI and I are unlikely to reach an agreement: he’s a cat lover, and I most definitely am not. Now, however, there are signs that we might come together on the pet question after all. As of yesterday, the Holy Father and I are both turtle owners.
To be precise, he is now the owner of an African tortoise given to him as a gift from a tribe of Pygmies in Cameroon. (I, on the other hand, have an American box turtle given to me by my dad.) Whispers has a report, and David Gibson is sharing my frustration over at Pontifications: why isn’t there a better photo of the little guy? This is the best one I could find (by AP photographer Andrew Medichini):
The CNS report (which refers to a “turtle” — I won’t get into the boring specifics of the turtle/tortoise distinction, but I suspect “tortoise” is the most correct term in this case) says the gift is “a symbol of wisdom in Cameroon.” And a little extra wisdom never hurt anyone, especially the pope. As for its fate, Vatican spokesperson and Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi (pictured above) “said he wasn’t sure if the turtle would make the return trip to Rome and take up residence in the Vatican. He suggested it might find a home in the Vatican gardens.” I think that sounds like an excellent plan — nothing like a life of luxury in Italy! Now they’ll just have to come up with a good name for this new appointee. Any suggestions? (I am also accepting corrections on my attempt at Latin in the title of this post. Google can only do so much.)
Now that His Holiness and I are bonding this way, I should offer one word of warning: if the as-yet-unnamed tortoise does immigrate to Vatican City, there’s a good chance he could outlive his master (if not the entire Curia). I got my boxie from a pet store when I was in grade school. This past December marked our eighteenth anniversary together. (And I have no idea how old he was when I got him!) He’s prowling around my apartment as we speak, and showing no signs of slowing down. I suspect I’ll be leaving him to my children someday.
on March 21st, 2009 at 10:15 am
Turtle name: Either Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, or Donatello
on March 21st, 2009 at 10:23 am
Mollie: Forgive the pedanticism, but that should be “testudinem” (accusative case). Perhaps we need a name from the tortoise and the hare affair.
on March 21st, 2009 at 10:29 am
Fr. Komonchak, I appreciate the correction! Generation gap: the pope may not be handy with Internet search terms, but he has it all over me when it comes to Latin. I’m fixing it now.
I think an animal known for being slow-and-steady is an excellent emblem for the Vatican. If it were up to me, I’d probably name him “Monsignor.” But William’s suggestions are good too — they’d actually make some sense in this context! Or maybe we should break new ground: How about Bernini?
on March 21st, 2009 at 11:32 am
If you have any money left and want to throw some coins in a Roman fountain that is favored by turtles, try this one:
http://www.tipsfromthetlist.com/article5588.html
But don’t throw all your money away there. Save a little for this charming restaurant:
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/rome/review-42000.html#
on March 21st, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Patrick, I have a picture of myself standing next to that fountain in Rome in 2005… Or, to be more precise, standing next to the tall construction barrier that surrounded the fountain, obstructing my view. I was proud of my pathfinding skills when I finally found that little square… and very disappointed to find the fountain under restoration. Especially when I discovered, on peeking through a window in the wall, that the turtles had been removed to a separate location for their touch-ups!
I do love the fact that the turtles weren’t part of the original design. Further proof, as far as I’m concerned, that most things can be improved by adding a turtle or two.
on March 21st, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Mollie, The words In Restauro” are among the first Italian words learned by tourists and I think it has always been that way. “Pazienza” is another good word to learn in Italy.
As a turtle lover you’re probably aware of their possible cosmological significance:
Stephen Hawking’s 1988 book A Brief History of Time, reports:
“A well-known scientist (some say it was Bertrand Russell) once gave a public lecture on astronomy. He described how the earth orbits around the sun and how the sun, in turn, orbits around the center of a vast collection of stars called our galaxy. At the end of the lecture, a little old lady at the back of the room got up and said: ‘What you have told us is rubbish. The world is really a flat plate supported on the back of a giant tortoise.’ The scientist gave a superior smile before replying, ‘What is the tortoise standing on?’ ‘You’re very clever, young man, very clever,’ said the old lady. ‘But it’s turtles all the way down!’”
Other versions here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down
on March 21st, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Mollie
As a confirmed philochelonist (tortoise fancier) you must think often of that grand moment in mathematical history when Zeno of Elea seemed to show that if Achilles will only allow a certain tortoise a little head start, he will never catch up and the tortoise must reach the finish line first.
on March 21st, 2009 at 7:23 pm
The Vatican should make a stand against all tyrrany, and name their tortoise Mack.
on March 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Mollie, that you have kept a box turtle all those years exalts you in my eight-year-old’s eyes more than you can imagine. I do think it is a treacherous thing to have a pet that will likely outlive you, but because I don’t much like parrots–who live to 80 or 100 or more–I think that was a prejufdice tailored for one sort of person and pet.
Have we any idea what kind of tortoise this might be yet? I still have my Frank Buck boyhood indoctrination that drives me to bring anything home and keep it in miserable captivity. But I wonder if the tortoise/turtle would be best left in Africa. That, of course, would be a huge papal faux pas. And where would he find his wisdom? He also might like a pet. Pius XXII had his parakeet. Paul VI had to give up his cat. The papacy isn’t easy.
on March 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Thanks, David! I haven’t seen any follow-up (what is wrong with the mainstream media?!), but I wonder if it’s a hingeback tortoise? The location and size seem about right. If so, it would be quite a get, even for a place as packed with curiosities as the Vatican. They’re kind of wild-looking.
on March 22nd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
For a name, how about “Festina Lente”?
on March 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 am
An update from CNS:
Oh well. His Holiness doesn’t know what he’s missing out on.