The minister of the Methodist Church I attend ecumenically
mentioned the Pope's visit in the pastoral prayer this morning,
giving thanks for the people who were drawn to God as a result. My
pastor didn't commit this offense but it reminded me of something
I'd been meaning to complain about: I'm mildly annoyed by how
common it has become to refer to the last two popes as JPII and
B16. I thought it was cute the first couple of times I heard it,
but now that people say it all the time it gives me the same
feeling as when children call their hip and understanding parents
by their first names.