Greetings from the Pope

Benedict XVI, who will be visiting the U.S. next week, sends the following video greetings to the American people. I found it interesting to hear him speaking English for more than a few words. Given that he also speaks German, Italian, French, Dutch, Latin and reads Ancient Greek and Hebrew, I think we can excuse the accent. (Transcript) (Video at YouTube)

UPDATE: Peggy Noonan adds an interesting point about Benedict's accent:

Another small fear, born of hearing him last week at the mass. Benedict spoke in many languages including English, which he speaks fluidly and with a strong German accent. This is an accent that 60 years of World War II movies have taught Americans to hear as vaguely sinister, or comic. The nicer commentators may say he sounds like Col. Klink in "Hogan's Heroes." I hope he speaks even more than usual about love, for that may remove the sting, as love does.