"Popes, too. John XXIII, who was well known for his humor, during one discourse said, more or less: “It often happens at night that I start thinking about a number of serious problems. I then make a brave and determined decision to go in the morning to speak with the pope. Then I wake up all in a sweat … and remember that the pope is me.”
"How well I understand him. And John Paul II was much the same. In the preliminary sessions of a conclave, when he was still Cardinal Wojtyła, an older and rather severe cardinal went to rebuke him because he went skiing, climbed mountains, and went cycling and swimming. The story goes something like this: “I don’t think these are activities fitting to your role,” the cardinal suggested. To which the future pope replied: “But do you know that in Poland these are activities practiced by at least 50 percent of cardinals?” In Poland at the time, there were only two cardinals."
If you ask Google Gemini (premium) to do a deep dive about Benjamin D'Israeli and Washington Irving it says this: "While a direct relationship between Benjamin D'Israeli and Washington Irving remains unconfirmed, their overlapping contexts and shared interests suggest the possibility of indirect connections. Both were influential figures in their respective domains, leaving a lasting impact on politics and literature. D'Israeli, a British Prime Minister of Jewish descent, navigated the complexities of British imperialism and left his mark on the Conservative Party. Irving, a celebrated American author, pioneered American literary traditions and gained international recognition for his captivating stories and insightful observations of society. Their shared interest in history, social commentary, and human nature, along with their connections within literary and intellectual circles, hint at potential points of convergence in their intellectual journeys. Further research into their social networks and literary influences might reveal more insights into their potential interactions and shared intellectual landscape."
Pope Francis approves of (humorous) anecdotes: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/17/opinion/pope-francis-humor.html
"Popes, too. John XXIII, who was well known for his humor, during one discourse said, more or less: “It often happens at night that I start thinking about a number of serious problems. I then make a brave and determined decision to go in the morning to speak with the pope. Then I wake up all in a sweat … and remember that the pope is me.”
"How well I understand him. And John Paul II was much the same. In the preliminary sessions of a conclave, when he was still Cardinal Wojtyła, an older and rather severe cardinal went to rebuke him because he went skiing, climbed mountains, and went cycling and swimming. The story goes something like this: “I don’t think these are activities fitting to your role,” the cardinal suggested. To which the future pope replied: “But do you know that in Poland these are activities practiced by at least 50 percent of cardinals?” In Poland at the time, there were only two cardinals."
I love this!
If you ask Google Gemini (premium) to do a deep dive about Benjamin D'Israeli and Washington Irving it says this: "While a direct relationship between Benjamin D'Israeli and Washington Irving remains unconfirmed, their overlapping contexts and shared interests suggest the possibility of indirect connections. Both were influential figures in their respective domains, leaving a lasting impact on politics and literature. D'Israeli, a British Prime Minister of Jewish descent, navigated the complexities of British imperialism and left his mark on the Conservative Party. Irving, a celebrated American author, pioneered American literary traditions and gained international recognition for his captivating stories and insightful observations of society. Their shared interest in history, social commentary, and human nature, along with their connections within literary and intellectual circles, hint at potential points of convergence in their intellectual journeys. Further research into their social networks and literary influences might reveal more insights into their potential interactions and shared intellectual landscape."