PONTIFF STARTLES CROWD WHEN HE SAYS, "JERRY, BRING OUT THE CREME EGGS. I'M DONE HERE," THEN DISAPPEAREDVATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI scrapped the Pontiff's traditional Easter blessing to the world, the Urbi et Orbi address, and instead ordered Vatican personnel to pass out tens of thousands of Cadbury Creme Eggs to pilgrims at Saint Peters Square.
Popes typically use their Easter message as an occasion to admonish warring nations to bring an end to bloodshed. This year, the Pope appeared on the balcony at St. Peter's Basilica precisely on time but some witnesses said he bore a sad and defeated look. He stared at his prepared text in silence for several seconds, causing many in the overflow crowd to assume he was ill. Suddenly he looked up and stared straight ahead and muttered in a soft but clearly audible voice, "Hopeless, absolutely hopeless." The Pope turned to his right and spoke to someone out of view. "Jerry, bring out the [Cadbury] Creme Eggs. I'm done here." Then he brusquely waved to the crowd and disappeared. A short time later a caravan of trucks rolled into the Saint Peters Square and began distributing four-packs of the popular Cadbury chocolate to the estimated 80,000 pilgrims. The Pope has publicly touted Cadbury Creme Eggs, once even singling them out in a speech because of their "delicious, soft fondant center."
Later, while downing one of the creme eggs, American tourist Noah Swayne summed up the feelings of many in the crowd, "Sure, I wish he had spoken more. But this was actually better."
