Phone Tag with the Pope

The Holy See, Cardinal Albertini speaking.

Hi how are you, is Pope Benedict in?

No I'm afraid he's out of the office at the moment. Can I take a message?

Ah....yeah..... if you could?  Ah.....just let him know that Jerry called about the blessing via satellite of the Catholics with Shingles annual conference in Boston. He and I had spoken a few weeks back and he said he'd be happy to do it.

Absolutley, I'll let him know you called. He does have your number?

Yeah yeah but let give to you anyway, I know he's busy and may have lost it. It's 212-787-4519 extension 16 

I'll let him know that you called.

Thanks so much.

The next day

(anwering machine) Beeeeeeeep!!! Hello Jerry, this is Pope Benedict XVI just returning your call. If you could give me a few more details about what we discussed that would be great. I do recall meeting you but I must confess that I can't remember exactly what it was we talked about. I'll be here at the Vatican for......lets see........it's 2:15 now........probably until 3:30. Talk to you soon.

3:35

Holy See Cardinal Albertini speaking.

Yeah.....hi....it's Jerry Linderman again is the Holy Father in?

No........you just missed him. Are you the one calling about the blessing at that annual meeting?

Yeah.....I am

He said you might be calling at some point.

Do you know when he's gonna be back?

oooooh........I'm really not sure....hold on...Father Francis, do we have any idea when His Holiness will be back in the office......no......ok.......We really don't know. I know that he's saying Mass from 4:00 to 5:30 and then he's presiding over a meeting of the Vatican Finance Commitee so......you know.....I really never know when he'll be back. I will certainly let him know you called.

Yeah.....ok.......ah..... thats fine. Jerry Linderman and he does have my number.

The Next Day:

Answering machine:beeeeep!!! Jerry this is Pope Benedict again.........returning your call........ahhhh......it's about 1:30 here in Rome.......so it's probablly about.........oh gosh...... 8:00 am where you are? You're probablly not even in the office yet. I definitely do want to talk to you but we seem to keep missing each other. I'll be here until 4:00.........and ahhhhh...... I look forward to hearing from you. God bless.

4:19 

Holy See Cardinal Albertini speaking

Yeah.....it's Jerry Linderman agian. Please tell me that the Holy Father is in.

oooooooh.....I'm afraid not he's at a Children's Hospital in Parma and tomorrow he leaves for ten days in South America. He might be back in the office today for a little bit, but I'm really not certain.

Ok...........man.......I just.....I just keep missing him. So he's gonna be in South America for ten days? ummmm........let me think....let me think.

I can put directly to his voicemail, if that helps?

Ahhhhhhh.......yeah...... yeah......ok........ummmm.......  yeah lets do that.

Voice Mail:   This is Pope Benedict XVI  I can't come to the phone right now but please leave a detailed message and a number where you can be reached and I will return your call as soon as possible. May God bless you.

Beeeeeeeeeep!!!! Yes......your Holiness......this is Jerry Linderman again. We just can't seem to 

reach each other. I was in the office the other morning and .......ah.....and I thought to myself let me just run down and grab a coffee; we have a Starbucks in the lobby of my building; I thought....you know...... how long could this take? I even thought to myself what do you want to bet that the Holy Father calls just as I'm going down the elevator. Sure enough!!! I know you're heading to South America tomorrow but Cardinal Albertini who, by the way, is fantastic! said that there was a chance that you'd be back in the office later today. If you are please give me a call. Again this is Jerry Linderman about the Sattalite hookup for the blessing of our annual meeting.......Catholics with Shingles we discussed it a few weeks ago and you expressed a lot of interest........so.......please call me today if you get a chance. Jerry Linderman 212-787-4519 extension 16.

Answering machine:

Beeeeeeeep!!! Jerry this is Pope Benedict XVI sorry I couldn't get you........ah.........I am leaving for South America tomorrow morning but I'm here now finishing a little paper work before my trip so.......... if you can call in the next few minutes I will be here but after that I'm........ya' know.......... gone ...............ahhhhh.........I guess......if you can just fax me the dates I'll see what I can do. That's about the best I can do right now. I'll be back on the 17th and I'll try to reach you then. God bless.

Holy See Cardinal Albertini speaking.

Hi Father it's Jerry Linderman again. Did the Holy Father leave already?

He did Jerry, Im sorry. He'll be back on the 17th.........if you can wait.

Yeah.........ummm...........ok.......can you give me his voicemail again?

Answering machine:

This is Pope Benedict XVI  I can't come to the phone right now but please leave a detailed message and a number where you can be reached and I will return your call as soon as possible. May God bless you

Beeeeeeeeeep!!!!

 Your Holyness; Jerry Linderman again..............ahhhhh......where gonna have the Dahli Lama do the blessing.......ummmmm......I really.......appreciate your interest and I'm sorry we just........you know could make it happen but.......ahhhh.........you know.......I'll be in touch in the future and ahhh......I guess have a safe trip in South America.......ahhhh.......take care.