“Dear Holy Father”

Since I stopped teaching middle school, I haven’t done much with this blog, but reading through some of these posts, it’s definitely worth reposting some of them for your reading pleasure. This one is from letters that Sr. Mary Ann had her fifth grade students write to Pope Benedict XV. Out of the mouth of babes . . .

“Dear Holy Father”

The red shoes . . .

Honest.  These are unedited, except for leaving out personal information.

Dear Pope Benedict,

What does the pope have to do?  What is your favorite part about being pope?  What songs do you have on your iPod?  How many songs do you have on your iPod?  Do you ever text on your cell phone?  Where does your brother live?  Have you every played sports?  Do you enjoy wearing red shoes?  Have you ever lost your iPod and a random person gave it back to you?  Why the red shoes?

Have a wonderful Christmas.  Please pray for our school.

“How old are you?”

Dear Holy Father,

I would like to know what you do on Christmas.  It seems like you are always busy doing something.

How old are you?  I am 11.  Do you have a Christmas dinner?  I always have a Christmas party with my family.  If you do have a Christmas dinner, I hope it is swell.

May your Christmas be full of happiness and cheer.  Please pray or my grandmother.  She is very sick.  I will pray for you.

“How did you feel . . .”

Dear Pope Benedict,

I have a few questions for you such as how did you feel when you were elected pope?  When you were elected were you happy or sad?  Did you feel touched?  Do you ever get to do anything fun anymore?  Do you actually like Fanta Orange pop?   Does it get annoying to have a lot of body guards around you all the time?  After you became Pope do you still get to see your family alot?  What kind of food do you like to eat on holidays?  What do you do on holidays?  Do you get to have family time on the holidays?  What are you going to do on Christmas?

Well that was a lot of questions but lucky for you I’m done.  I will keep you in my prayers always.  I wish you the most blessed and Merry Christmas!

The really important questions

Dear Pope Benedict,

I would like to ask you some questions.  What made you want to devote your life to God?  I heard that your favorite drink is beer, is that true?

I will keep you in my prayers.  I hope you have a wonderful and safe Christmas.

The movie 2012

Hmmmm.  Once again from one of Sr. Mary Ann’s students:

Dear Pope Benedict the XVI,

At our school we have been talking about the movie 2012 that came out, and it’s about the world ending.  When do you think the world will end?  Please pray for me.

P.S. Please write back.

“You are a really cool guy!”

I’d love to see his answer to this one . . . and I’d love to meet the writer:

Dear Pope Benedict XVI,

Wow!  You have an iPod, computer, and cell phone.  You are a really cool guy! I was just wondering if you could pray for my G.G.  She is in heaven now but sometimes she comes and visits me in my heart.  Oh, by the way, G.G. means Great Grandma.  She died about two years ago, but I can’t get over the fact that she is no longer with me on earth.  I am praying for you.  I hope you have a great Christmas!  I have so much to say I can hardly concentrate on what I’m writing!  So . . . . since you have an iPod what kind of music do you listen to?  I know you are really busy and stuff so you probably won’t have time to write me a letter back but that’s ok.  I understand.  If you do have time thought I would really appreciate it.  Do you have any pets?  When you figured out that you were pope, how did you feel?  Do you ever grow a garden in the summer?  What is your favorite color?  I know I told you this but I am praying for you.  Are you always dressed so nicely? We wrote these letters in school and we only have about 10 minutes left of class but on your cell phone do you ever text?  I hope you know that God is always with you and He loves you very, very, very much.  If you have time when you get this letter will you tell Jesus I love him?  Who is your favorite saint?  Do you have any pets?  Oh, I gotta go.  Please write back if you have time.  I know this is wierd for me saying, but I love you and look up to you.  I hope you have a good holiday.

P.S. Thanks for taking your time to read this letter.  I appreciate it a lot.

Iceland

From a fifth grader:

Dear Pope Benedict XVI,

I have some things to ask you, like have you ever been to Iceland, and out of all the places you’ve been to, what is your favorite?  I wish you a merry christmas.

“It would mean so much . . .”

Another letter to Pope Benedict by one of Sr. Mary Ann’s students, this one a little more on the serious side:

Dear Pope Benedict XVI,

My good friend is suffering from cancer.  It would mean so much if you prayed for her.  I would also like to know what is your normal schedule.  Please write back.

“Dear Holy Father”

Another letter to the Pope by one of Sr. Mary Ann’s students:

Dear Holy Father,

I have a couple of questions about you and your life.  If you could take the time to answer these questions, me and my friends would be delighted.  So one of my questions is what church do you go to, when do you get to see your family, is being a pope the first thing God asked you to do, since you have been pope do you still pray for those who do not like your decisions and that is all I have to ask.  And have a Christful Christmas.

P.S. If you cannot answer these questions, please pray them to God and He may tell me.