Pope receives laptop to help him work after injuring his wrist

Vatican City, Jul 20, 2009 / 10:11 am

The Italian technology firm Olivetti has given Pope Benedict XVI a top-of-the-line laptop computer to help him continue writing the second part of his book, “Jesus of Nazareth,” after he fractured his wrist  last Friday while on vacation.
 
The Pope was given the computer on Sunday in the Italian town of Romano Canavese, where he prayed the Sunday Angelus with about 9,000 people. The laptop was presented to the Pontiff by Franco Bernabe of Telecom and the president of Olivetti, Francesco Forlenza.
 
The computer also contained a slide show of papal photographs featuring Pius XII and John XXIII, who also visited the town.
 
The director of the Holy See's press office, Father Federico Lombardi, also gave reporters an update on the Pope's condition. “The Pope is calm and doing well. Today is a calm day after the beautiful day yesterday.”  This afternoon the Pope will take a walk with his secretary to pray the rosary.
 
Regarding the laptop, Father Lombardi said the Pope has “not yet experimented with it, since he not used to it. He’s not very tech-savvy.  He writes in longhand and enjoys writing with his pen.” 
 
Father Lombardi also explained that Benedict XVI would be meeting with Cardinal Bertone over the next few days to discuss the Holy See’s ongoing activities. The Vatican spokesman said he would be staying with the Pope a few days to follow his recovery more closely.