And just how smashed up must it be?

From the outside, it sure looks like an expensive hobby for whoever is picking up the tab, particularly so in these times of cutbacks and austerity......

Yes, I got the impression Jesus wasn't into all that stuff.

True, I can see why its been ~600 odd years since someone opted for the "get out early" clause but rules are rules

Good point, he did seem to have simple tastes......

In the future he'll be known as The Pope of the Long Goodbye.

And of course Cardinal Keith O'Brien has resigned for 'inappopriate behaviour' towards other priests. The same Cardinal Keith O'Brien who was so vociferous about the debauchery of homosexuals.

If I were the Pope, I'd turn this to my advantage - "Look, they were all over 18! See, absolutely no kiddy-fiddling going on here!"

Hypocrisy in religion - surely not

Yeah, this time

Some people were hoping for a progressive, but maybe that's taking it a little too far?...

Habeamus Webcam! Gloria in Extremis!

After less than 24 hours of deliberation, the College of Cardinals has elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina to become the Roman Catholic Church’s 266th leader, who will be the Church’s first-ever South American pope and who will be henceforth known as Pope Francis. Here are some facts about the new pope:

Date Of Birth: December 17, 1936

Date Of Death: November 16, 2015

Number Of People Who Don’t Give A Shit What He Thinks About Anything: Approximately 5.8 billion

Spouse: Isabel Alba Bergoglio

Children: Rebecca (b. 2002), Timothy (b. 2006)

Main Goals For Papacy: Keep Catholic people Catholic, convince other people to become Catholic

Old: Yes

White: Yes

Women’s Rights: Nah

Ability To Walk Up Steps Without Help: Not great

Highest-Charting Single:“Wanna Do Ya Girl (But tha Lord is My Love),” 1989, Arista Records

Official Website: techdeals.com

What He Thinks Heaven Is Like: Mix of clouds and astroturf

Outrage Over Sexual Abuse In Catholic Church: Yeah, sure

I laughed out loud. Great post!

Yes, going back to the days when attending bible study was mandatory for me (till I left school) did the 'Big yin' not kick all the stall holders, bingo players, money lenders, shysters etc out of the temple? The Vatican today would take him a tad longer I fear.

At age 76 it probably won't be too long before they're going through all these election shenanigans again.

The interesting thing I picked up from the pope business this time is that even in Italy the church (RC of course) is in rapid decline. One usually thinks of Italy as being highly devout. The growth and devotion of RC is now predominantly Africa and South America. An Argentinian pays lip service to that, I suppose. It would be nice to think that Europe is well on its way to becoming completely secular, but of course there is an even more deluded branch of religion gaining ground in Europe which should be discouraged IMO.