I keep trying to give Benedict the benefit of a doubt, and I will until I read the story in the context of the book. How many out of context and skewed quotes have we gone thru? I never draw a conclusion about Benedict until I can read his words in context. Is it true that, as one commenter has said, Benedict agreed with Pope John Paul on this?

The article says that Benedict has said that Rock music is the work of Satan. Show me! Where, and in exactly what context?

I understand he has banned guitars, a shame if true but, well, he is the pope, no?

Excuse me while I turn up the volume on "Turn Turn Turn" by the Byrds.

klaatu, austin, tX

Perhaps I am but a neophyte in my knowledge of "The Church," but I am not without knowledge of music.

In 1816, the song "Silent Night" was composed and on Christmas Eve of 1818 was played during Mass at the Church of St. Nicholas (Nicola-Kirche) in Oberndorf, Austria.

It was written by Father Josef Mohr; the melody with guitar accompaniment was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Gruber. The very reason for it being composed for a guitar was because the church's organ was not working that night.

So in defense of Pope Benedict's statements regarding the use of guitars during Mass, perhaps he is simply ignorant of history.

Joshua, Nashville,

He who marries modernity will be left a widower. It is inevitable that the use of one modern medium will be left for another,and another ad infinitum. What the Pope is doing is steming the tide and bringing back the balance. Rock music is not evil in itself, no music is. However, the inspiration for such music (eg death metal) may have values etc which are contrary to the Catholic faith. Bob Dylan's music may not be evil in itself, but my question is is what values does his music provide? For JPII it was all in the interpretation, "Blowing in the Wind" was not about the breath of the Holy Ghost-Dylan did'nt mean that at all, but JPII used it for his own devices. There is no harm in this at all. Pope Benedict prefers classical music because a lot of it was inspired by Christian values whether overtly or implicitly.

Mannes, Melbourne, Australia

Pope John Paul II left so much undone, especially in the second half of his pontificate - Pope Benedict is having to pick up the pieces which are sadly matters of some doctrinal substance such as the liturgy and the proper presentation of the Church's moral teachings.

Pope Benedict's pontificate will be remembered for many more years than Pope John Paul II's, even if he is canonised and called great. Anyone remember Pope Nicholas the Great?

Christopher Gillibrand, Brussels in exile, Belgium

As an authentic, tree-hugging dirt worshiping Pagan, this would amuse the hell out of me (so to speak). Alas, that this overdressed revisionist helps set global policy on such 'minor' topics as environmental stewardship, social justice, racial equality. This simply is the most obvious example of how backwards and parochial this bloated institution is. On the plus side, I now have another excuse to play my Dylan VERY LOUDLY.

If you'll excuse me, the nuns that I assist want me to practice "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" for their next communion service. I'm the only one they know who's willing to play guitar for them as they bring Mass to the shut -in elderly and nursing home residents.

Aelf, Madison, WI USA

Rock on Pope Benny!
We love you!
It's time Western Europe outgrew last century's atheism that cost 200 million lives.

Desmond Persaud, Wimbledon, London, uk

I might have understood (but disagreed) if the music proposed was something popular in Jesus' day. Fact is that Jesus didn't listen to Bach or Hayden - at least during his earthly life! Hymns were originally about communicating the gospel message in a modern form - many were written using contemporary music. Now - well we seem to want to keep the Christian faith firmly stuck in the 17th centaury. WHY?

Tim S, Ware, UK

The new pope is limited.The old pope had vision,and was not afraid of the modern World;Benedict is going backwards.

Michael Rigby, Blackburn, England

A harp is a bit like a guitar, in so much you strum and pluck. And God seems to be big on them within his celestrial choir line-up.

Robbie Rohan, Great Chart, Kent, UK

The fact that Pope Benedict said that rock music is the work of Satan just goes to show that funamentalists whether Christian or otherwise should be treated with a huge amount of scepticism.

David L, London, UK

So I guess Motörhead can scratch The Vatican off their tour itinerary?

Sam Janulewicz, Whittier, CA

I don't know . . .doesn't anybody think it's possible that guitars are not traditional in religious music because they weren't around back then . .and that perhaps those composers and choirs and all would've totally LOVED using cranked up marshalls . . if only they had them?

If the idea is to communicate a message effectively to a lot of people, then I think Dylan is perfect. I dont know who the new Pope would've suggested . .but I bet hardly anybody listens to them.

CC, DetroitRockCity, USA

Why does anyone care what this man has to say? Hell, even JPII didn't care what he had to say. If for some reason he has it in his head that Dylan is a perverse influence, God help him --literally-- if he ever gets updated to the year 2007 and checks out what passes for newly emerging entertainers. They should have all been glad that Bob even agreed to perform at such a weird venue. And BTW, Mr. Ratzinger, please don't put words into Bob's mouth--"self-styled prophet of pop"--he would never do that to you.

Meredith, Los Angeles, CA

This episode suggests the current Pope is a rather up-tight individual, hardly at ease with himself ... he should lighten up ... or perhaps take a regular laxative at bedtime.

Occam, Solihull, UK

Good for Benedict. Maybe he'll have the sense and guts to go the whole way and reverse the nonsense that is Vatican II. It's been almost half a century since the Church had a pope who wasn't blowing in the wind.

John, Doncaster, UK

Dylan has consistently abrogated any role as prophet or spokesman of his generation. One of the few times he spoke of the role of prophet was in the following words he spoke on stage in 1980: "Years ago they... said I was a prophet. I used to say, "No I'm not a prophet" they say "Yes you are, you're a prophet." I said, "No it's not me." They used to say "You sure are a prophet." They used to convince me I was a prophet. Now I come out and say Jesus Christ is the answer. They say, "Bob Dylan's no prophet." They just can't handle it."

Mick Gold, London,

Dylan and Wojtyla paid homage to each other's work as they honoured the King of Glory together. Their worship inspired thousands to do likewise. Something in each man recognized the other ; the destined moment arrived and both responded in faith. Let us thank God for such powerful and faithful witnesses, and pray that Joseph Ratzinger come to understand Dylan better.

Anthony Faulkner, Bellingen, Australia

Really I don´t know what was Dylan doing close to the Pope, first he had to find out his way and then he would be able of such a great thing for a catholic, like to be near the Pope (I have never been in such a situation, but I wish I could be once on my life). I understand the reasons of our present Pope Benedict, being him so traditional. But Church has to be traiditional nowdays or not to be, these are the living times.

Francisco Cañero, Jerez / Cádiz, Spain

I dont really think i get all this. Doesnt B16 know who Bob is?
Bob has done more to reconduct lost souls in this world to the sacred and safe harbour that Jesus Heart is , than the Church has, specially since it all went down with the Vatican II. The Church has its days counted, but so has everybody, this is Closing Time now.

plotino, BILBAO, SPAIN

It's hard to write something 'about JPII. Recently I've watched American "John Paul II" which does not reflect Wojtyła's personality. I mean such situation as presented above are particular and makes JPII pope whose shoes are hard to fill (as Bernd said). Style and doctrine- yea, a pope has to present his doctrine in a way that can come to pople's mind. JPII did it by meetings with teenagers (WYD) such "amazing" situations as presented and also by his tremendous writings and speeches.
B16 has different personality, though he grown in other envir. But he has his own style. Maybe he just appreciate the fact that it could be mission impossible to go JPII way of concerts, meetings etc.?

Krzysztof, Lubycza, Polska

You're throwing out a lot of "he saids" about Pope Benedict without giving any quotes. Honestly, I'm very skeptical of the way you summarize Pope Benedict's views on music in a couple of lines, making him sound hard and cold. Have you read "God is Love," his first encyclical? He is a holy and good man. I will look up his comments on music and read them for myself. And if he does criticize pop music or guitars in Mass, well, I'm not going to have a faith crisis over it.

Emily, Portland, OR

It depends on whether you see bob as a truth teller as some do, or whether you view his music and poetry as simply entertainment. I agree that the church's mission is not entertainment, but it is... connection and communication. Didn't the pope take a wise opportunity to do both here? Didn't Jesus use his immediate surroundings to help him connect and communicate to people? Does the Church want to eschew all connections with art? Is music art?

Raleigh Wilson, Snoqualmie, USA

I always thought it had been a case of supreme poor judgment for Bob Dylan to be on the same stage with a shady character like the Pope -- especially that one. My esteem for him went down a couple of notches for him at the time. This just confirms what I thought. Don't follow leaders, watch the parking meters.

Fabrice Ziokowski, Paris, France

Pope Benedict is doing the correct thing. Too many people are being lead by entertainers rather than the teachings of the Church & the Holy Scriptures. They "worship & glorify" those who, even with good intentions are confused as to what is truly good. Jesus is "the Way, the Truth, & the Life" and we should try to follow Him, and not the "teachings" of those who are more in love with worldly things than they are with spiritual things. You don't prove anything by "debating" or sharing a stage with entertainers, you prove yourself to be truly spiritual by doing good in a quiet way, according to the mission God has given you.

Vincent Bemowski, Menasha, USA

The guitar mass is man-centred, happy clappy, while the old mass is God-centred, solemn and reverential.

As for Pop music and keeping in touch with the young, even Bob himself said you have to move past the 'keeping up with the times' stuff.

If we keep up with the youth today, then the Church is being led by the most fickle and transient demographic. Best to stick to Orthodoxy and lead young people to the truth.

Kieran, Dublin,

I never understood what the attraction was over John Paul. He turned his head and closed his mind to the abuse of young boys and girls in the church, which has cost us not only money but the faith of thousands of our followers and given Hollywood and the press a reason to further their agenda of destroying our church and faith and anything Christian. For the first time in a LONG time we have a man in the papel seat that knows what it takes to strieghten up the mess our church is in and to teach our young that faith, family values and respect for them selves and thier bobies is the only way to stop the march of diseases and filth that have ravaged our world. When God is taken out of our lives, workplaces and schools a vacuum forms and that vacuum is soon filled with wrongdoers. Columbine showed us what a secular world offers us, U.S., and the world,,,nothing but our own destruction. Long live Pope Bennedict.

Herman Vogel, Seguin,, Texas

Are you a journalist ? The book is published already ! You can buy it to the San Paolo library in front of the Vatican and you can read that your scoop is dead. The text who the pope says that while he agreed with his predecessor was published in 1998 !!!!

Thank you

Herve Yannou, Rome, Itlay

To say he "flirted" with Christianity is also completely mis-representing the truth and typically lazy journalistic practice though not quite equalling the ot and out lying of the Pope's completely fatuous comment "self-styled prophet of pop"

Andrew Muir, Cambridge, UK

I'm afraid this merely reinforces my view of Joseph Ratzinger as an academic theologian, unable and unwilling to see that the Law and the Faith must have a modern relevance - and that it can without damaging the foundations of the Church. The Spirit is alive and not an embalmed tradtion that you bow down to on Sunday "and salute her when her birthday comes".

H. Porter, Stornoway, Scotland

I object to the phrase 'flirted with Christianity'. What a terrible insult to someone who I believe has been on a genuine spiritual quest and has found some comfort in religion at times of personal crisis. Listen to the song 'Every Grain of Sand' if you doubt Dylan's sincerity.

Pauline, Durham, UK

As an italian roman catholic I should be 'siding' with B16. too bad i'm a huge fan of Mr Zimmerman. i truly hope nobody seriously believe that music can influence the masses.or that it can stop poverty. please, let's not get carried away by comunist doctrine. vietnam wasn't stopped by bob singing 'a hard rain is gonna fall'. or the west coast bands putting flowers into police rifles. but it helped. JP2 was really loved in the world, particularly by youths. his success has been huge. BP16 will not be loved at all. but I agree, he doesn' t need to be loved. the church will have to show some steel and start to realise that with the incoming 'scuds' from the muslim world a proper response will have to be prepared. even a religious one.

enrico maria simone, london, london

Mr. Dylan, just like most most popes, ain't got a wife.

liverpoolken, liverpool, merseyside

Interesting use of words. In what specific way is mass with guitars a spectacle and mass without guitars not a spectacle? Inquiring minds want to know....

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

How typical the catholic church once again buries itself in the past makes it self look ridiculously out of touch with society , young people and runs back to hiding its head under the sand like an ostrich. Aids isnt going to go away while they encourage human kkind to kill themselves, child molestation and sexual offences by their employess isnt going to stop unless they do something about it apart from trying hide it and then pay off court cases.

the pope shows he has no connection with modern society or modern people he is indeed an excellent representative of his old tired outdated religion.

time the british press stopped covering god bothering there is far far too much of it in public religion is private keep it out of politics and to yourself .


time the worlds largest property owning multinantional was brought to heel for its sins and was made to pay tax worldwide as well. if they are christians why dont they give their billions to the poor ?

arsene, london, uk

The more I read of him, the more I like Benedict.
No easy populism, but a strong Catholic message. Uneasy, and uncomfortable, as it has always been. The Catholic Church is not a marketing institution. May God give him a long and healthy life.

Roberto Ruggeri, London,

No-one loves Bob as much as me (well, and maybe his wife and kids!) but B16 is correct. Pope John Paul was far too "nice", but for all his populist gestures, vocations are down and mass attendances are down. We need a strong, orthodox AND unpopular Pope. It's when they like ya is when you're doing something wrong!

Kieran, Dublin,

Pop music is such a vast area, that any one description of it is by definition limited. Some of it may be the 'work of the devil' for what else are satanic lyrics?
However some of the pop-rock songs of say U2 (Yes, I'm Irish) are a rallying call to peace, like Sunday Bloody Sunday for example. Haven't many great pop artists sung rallying calls to peace, a topic close to the pope's heart?

Francis O'Hara, Nice, France

His Awesomeness B16 will right the ship and help bring my 200 year old Church back firmly to orthodoxy. Bravo!

Grace, Chicago, IL

Did we need another confirmation that Pope Ben will never, in a million years, fill the shoes of Pope John Paul?

Bernd Neuenkirchen, Houston, Texas, US

Very interesting. Glad the former Pope ahd his own way. This Pope is a bit on the regressive and divisive type at a time when we need precisely the opposite.
I have a criticism however. Calling Mr. Dylan a "self-styled prophet of pop" shows a distinct lack of knowledge or research about him. Bob Dylan has never considered himself a prophet. The mdeia had dubbed him with these titles back then and apparently are still doing so. This is something that has consistently made Mr. Dylan very uncomfortable Let it go.

diana wolf, Asbury Park,, nj

Every Pontiff has to go His way. This isn't about doctrine but style.

Robert Sledz, Elk Grove Village, IL