1. Next week, My 24 and 25, I am attending a conference organised by the Association of Franco Irish Studies, and taking place in the university of Lille, France.
The title of the conference is “Margins and Marginalities in France and/or Ireland”. I am speaking at the conference on the Friday afternoon about my experience of dealing with Vatican authorities. I am looking forward to that.
2. A German film producer, Christoph Rolf, has produced a documentary film on the life of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict. I was interviewed for this film, and, while I haven’t yet seen it, I understand that I have a good bit to say in it — and, as might be expected, I am not exactly full of praise for the years Cardinal Ratzinger headed up the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The film got its first showing at the Munich Film Festival recently, and, from what I have read, the reviews were positive. I will wait for the English language version, which I am told will be shown in Ireland.
None of this will do me any favours in the Vatican! But I can live with that!
