John Paul II, Gone Fishin'

The Italian newspaper, Il Giornale, is publishing never before seen photographs of Pope John Paul II.

One of the photos shows Karol Wojtyla, then the archbishop of Krakow, wearing a T-shirt, shorts and a red bandana scarf. An enormous fish is lying at his feet. Another photo depicts Wojtyla having a meal in front of his tent.

The photos were taken during a summer trip that the future pope took with his friends from the university. They slept in tents, went kayaking, fishing, contemplated nature and discussed such issues as love, responsibility and morality.

Seems the photographs will be used in an upcoming book on marriage. I am so buying it . . . I like to remember His Holiness as the vibrant and strong young man that he was.