Did you know this? Benedict wasn't even in attendance at the State Dinner held for him at the White House. I tried to find an adequate explanation for the rationale behind this policy (it seems that John Paul II broke with tradition here) but couldn't.

One article entitled, "Popes, By Tradition, Dine Alone," by Hugh Mcnichol (www.pewsitter.com) was kind of 'watery' and didn't really seem to shed much light on the reason for it. You can read the article here. Be sure to check out the photo of the Pope decked out in gold vestments with 'IHS" written across the front.

Does anyone have any idea as to what the real reason might be for him not wanting to dine in public? One online source jokingly suggested that maybe the Vatican still employs "food tasters" and doesn't want this ritual viewed by the public.

Any thoughts?

Shalom All,

Pope Urban VIII (baptised 5 April 1568 – July 29, 1644), born Maffeo Barberini, was Pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last Pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions. However, the massive debts incurred during his papacy greatly weakened his successors, who were unable to maintain the Pope's longstanding political or military influence in Europe. He was also involved in a controversy with Galileo and his theory on heliocentrism during his time.

He was the last Pope to extend the papal territory, and fortified Castelfranco Emilia on the Mantuan frontier and the castle of Sant'Angelo in Rome. Urban also established an arsenal in the Vatican and an arms factory at Tivoli, and fortified the harbour of Civitavecchia.

For the purposes of making cannon and Vatican decoration, massive bronze girders were pillaged from the portico of the Pantheon, leading to a famous quote quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini, "what the barbarians did not do, the Barberini did."

Such actions and blatant nepotism that hinted of a Barberini dynasty in the Vatican, and unreserved expansionism and involvement in wars at great cost, made the people most unhappy and discontented. Few wanted to associate with him and perhaps this was why he dined alone most of the time. His dining habits eventually led to a tradition that spanned another three centuries! Why? Because. Some of the latter popes did not believe in this tradition and had good relations with kings and laity and invited them to dinner frequently.

(On his death, the bust of Urban that lay beside the Conservator’s Palace on the Capitoline Hill was rapidly destroyed by an enraged crowd, and only a quick-thinking priest saved the sculpture of Urban belonging to the Jesuits from a similar fate. By the way, Urban VIII issued a 1638 papal bull that protected the existence of Jesuit missions in South America by forbidding the enslavement of natives who joined a mission community. At the same time, Urban repealed the Jesuit monopoly on missionary work in China and Japan, opening these countries to missionaries of all orders.)

John Paul II often dined with his personal assistant, but as for Benedict, it is his custom to dine alone as it it is his only personal time. Not even the president of the host country seems to be able to change him.