An amusing episode of the Pope’s lunch with twelve young people during the World Youth Day 2011 came with the dessert. Pope Benedict XVI feigned playing the keyboard of a chocolate piano cake. More than just a frivolous display of bridging the gap with his young guests, the Pope is an accomplished pianist. He relaxes by playing the piano for a half hour each evening and listening to Mozart and Bach usually daily.
From what the young people said, Pope Benedict XVI was attentive throughout the meal and was genuinely interested in what they had to say. He also surprised his young guests by his relaxed and playful sense of humor, as well as his ability to relate to them in a fatherly and deeply caring way.
Claire Brown, who also took part in the World Youth Day 2008 at Sidney says it was “an amazing experience” to have lunch with the Pope. The 22 year old teacher came to Madrid with 4000 Australians, so far the biggest contingent from that country in any World Youth Day.
The Pope made them feel at ease according Olivier Richard and Michelle Hatfield, from France and the United States respectively. Juan Carlos Piedra from Ecuador says “The Pope laughed with all of us . That is a side of him that I wish more people would know, because it is not well known.”
Eva Janosikova, of Slovakia and Ya-Chen Chuang of Taiwan sat on either side of the Pope. Sylvie Kambau Mujinga and Martin Thomas Leung-Wai invited the Pope to visit their respective countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo and New Zealand. Aurora Maria Almagro, of host country Spain says "We didn't eat meat today because it's Friday."
Aloys Sibomana a Rwandan deacon, 28, said he was "struck by the simplicity and the closeness of the pope. "The message he gave to us that we must deepen our faith."
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