Help Wanted

I'm sure you've heard by now about the job opening - in the middle of Rome, no less.

When Jim came home from work one day this week, he said "what's happening in the world today?".  I said "the Pope quit."

The Popedom - up for grabs.  For the first time in like seven centuries, the pontiff is pulling out.  He is, after all, 85 years old and in his own words "due to advanced age . . . no longer suited".

So if you're Catholic, preferably a priest, know who and who not to canonize, and speak Latin, this may be just the job you've been looking for . . . Pontiff #266.

Oh, and you must be male.  It's a guy thing.

Seriously though, the qualifications for becoming Pope are strikingly simple.  There's just one:
- baptized male under 80 in good graces with the church.

So, Bill Murray could be Pope?

Catholics believe that Jesus appointed Peter as the head of the church and thereby he is recognized as the first Pope.  Since then all Popes are successors of St. Peter.  Hard act to follow.

It's considered in poor taste to campaign for the papacy or bet on who might be Pope, but who's keeping score?  The Canadians.

Apparently Loto-Quebec takes bets on sporting events among other things, but they have banned betting on the current Vatican void.  Too bad.  It seems the UK doesn't have a problem with it.

The current favorites are a Canadian, an Italian, and a couple of Africans.  A black US President and a black Pope?

I guess an American will never be Pope :( Remember, we speak only one language and it ain't Latin.

The Cardinals plan to fill the Holy See vacancy by Easter so guys . . .  a posse ad esse.