MINNESOTA
Star Tribune
Article by: ROSE FRENCH , Star Tribune
Updated: February 21, 2013
Minnesota author was in Rome to promote his behind-the-scenes book on the papacy when the pope announced his resignation.
John Thavis finds himself at a rare moment in history. A journalist and author who has written about the Vatican for nearly 30 years, Thavis arrived in Rome just hours before Pope Benedict’s unexpected resignation.
“I’m just amazed,” the Minnesota native said during a phone interview this week from Rome, where he served as bureau chief for the U.S.-based Catholic News Service before retiring nearly a year ago. He returned to Rome to promote his new book, “The Vatican Diaries.”
“When I walked into the press office, all my old colleagues looked at me and said, ‘You knew.’ But I didn’t really.”
Since Benedict’s announcement that he will step down Feb. 28, Thavis, 62, has emerged as a key Vatican expert. His book, a behind-the-scenes account of the personalities and politics of Vatican life, went on sale Thursday and is getting an unexpected boost from the pope’s news.
“My publisher is very happy about the timing,” Thavis dryly quipped.
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