Why does the Pope Wave Weird? It is an Bavarian Thing

One reason I am blogging on the Pope so much is do my small part for people to get him know him. If I hear people liked John Paul the II because he was a "rock star" Pope one more time I think I will vomit. People loved John Paul the II and had a connection to him for various reasons.

For instance he might have been a Saint, he was a important Cold War hero, he was shot and survived, he was something new (Non Italian), he had a great mind, he lived out the final days of his life with great courage, and oh yeah he was Pope for over 20 years.

I hate to say it but I don't think we got twenty years to get comfortable(what ever that means) with Benedict before people start to take notice of what he saying.

It does not help that Americans generally don't get the odd quirks of various European folks because well we just don't know. So myths or misunderstandings can develop.

On that note the very good Pope2008.com blog had this entry Why Benedict 'Waves Badly' which I am reproducing below. Be sure to check out the rest of their entries. Combine what is below with the fact that it has been established by many that we have a Pope that is a tad on the "shy" side then I think we sort of get a picture of him more fully why he does the things he does.

Tom Hoopes here. Yesterday we noticed that Pope Benedict has a spring in his step and a joyful air about him. He extends his arms in a kind of embrace that is electrifying, when you're a Catholic excited about seeing the Holy Father. But as he walked by us at Andrews Air Force Base, his most common gesture was a wave in which he plays "air piano" with his fingers.
It was commented on by several of the reporters there. Why does he wave like that? Benedict of Bavaria (published by our sister publisher, Circle Press ... see the link above to the left) has the answer. Writes Brennan Pursell:
"Some journalists today criticize the Pope for being 'a bad waver,' and it is true that he does not gesture nearly as much as his predecessor. But the way he carries himself is perfectly in keeping with his culture."
Specifically, Pursell attributes this to the Bavarian virtue of being zuruckhaltend, "self-restrained, with no shouting, wild gesticulations, or blaring laughter. Public displays of emotion were in bad taste, and the voice was to be kept soft."
Other Bavarian virtues he sees in the pope:
Fleiss -- "a diligent devotion to hard work,not hard, excessive, or frenetic, but good in quality and quantity."
Punktlichkeit -- "punctuality as a matter of personal discipline and basic consideration for the needs of others."
Bescheidenheit -- "which refers to modest bearing, or basic humility."
... and Geborgenheit and Gemutlichkeit which describe feelings associated with being safely and comfortably at home.