Pope has arachnid encounter

Sun Sep 27 2009 17:10:49

Pope Benedict XVI has had a little more interest than he realised while delivering a speech in the Czech Republic.

The Pontiff was speaking at the medieval Prague Castle's ornate Spanish Hall at the end of a concert perfomance.

While he was addressing politicians and diplomats, a spider appeared on his white robes.

It disappeared from view for a moment, but then could be seen crawling up the right side of the 82-year-old Pontiff's face, then reaching his ear.

The spider then reappeared on the Pope's left shoulder and scampered down his robe.

It disappeared and Benedict XVI carried on. He is on a three-day pilgrimage to the Czech Republic and urged the heavily secular nation to rediscover its Christian roots.

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