Keen!

ROME (Reuters) – While perhaps not quite manna from heaven, some would at least claim it as a divine creation.
Pope John Paul, leader of the world’s one billion Roman Catholics, isn’t letting on how close it is to Godliness, but he still thinks pizza’s pretty good.

Wednesday, at his weekly general audience in front of 50,000 faithful in St Peter’s Square, the Pontiff gave thanks to 2,000 pizzamakers gathered in Rome from around the world to celebrate World Pizzamakers’ Day.

“We appreciate so much your professional work,” the 80-year-old Pope told the chefs drawn from as far afield as Australia, Spain, Japan and the United States, as well as Italy.

“I pray for your families and your particular profession,” he added.

The dough-rollers, who made a special marrow, yellow pepper and buffalo mozzarella pizza for the occasion (the colors of the Vatican flag), honored the Pontiff with an antique pizza oven, traditional plates and a decorated cutting board.

They then distributed 50,000 slices of the global delicacy — said to have been invented in Naples during the seventh century — to passers-by throughout the Eternal City.