A Cardinal from South America says, "I had a thought. When the crowd kept applauding during the Mass--to me, looking out at them, it seemed as if they were saying: 'We're not just observers anymore, we're the Church, Hear us!' It seemed to me possibly quite significant."Nice touch, that throat-clearing. Adds a bit of what Mike Hammer called "the old sincerity."
Silence as they all considered this.
An old cardinal with what seemed a German accent cleared his throat.
"What they want, I believe, is a healthy church. For all John Paul's illness, they thought he was a healthy man. Emotionally and psychologically healthy in a way modern culture is not.
"It seems to me the meaning of the crowds, the meaning of the cries at the mass, is this: 'We loved this hero of truth, and we want a hero of truth.' They want someone who won't bow to the thinking of the world. They want someone who will clean the stables, too. The corruption and worldly values of the church, the sex scandals--these must be dealt with."
Funny, when I envision Red Hats at dinner in Rome, I see a different scene entirely:
CARDINAL MAZEPPA: More young boy, Cardinal Umlaut?Well, it ain't Chronicles of Hell, but I've had a busy morning.
CARDINAL UMLAUT: Danke! We ought to get together more often, fellows. Not just for funerals!
CARDINAL SPAGHETTINI: Can't you get up here more often?
CARDINAL UMLAUT: Ach, they keep me chained to my desk in Bremen. Fortunately I have a Herman Miller chair. The only one in existence made of gold, they tell me!
CARDINAL M'TUMBE: Do what I do – offer to donate your frequent flyer miles to the poor!
(General laughter)
CARDINAL WENCES: So what do you think? Ratzinger is a lock, no?
CARDINAL M'TUMBE: Too creepy. Yesterday he told me his first act as Pope would be to have John XXIII exhumed and tried post mortem for the heresy of Vatican II. He said he looked forward to striking off Roncalli's blessing fingers himself. I suspect he would do it with his teeth.
CARDINAL SPAGHETTINI: What about Arinze?
CARDINAL M'TUMBE: Come now, Spaghettini! You do not think the punters will accept a black face on the throne of Peter?
CARDINAL WENCES: And why not? They accepted a Polack!
(General laughter)
CARDINAL WENCES: Hey, you know how Wojtyla first put on the shoes of the fisherman?
(Stands, puts one foot on his chair, bends to tie his other shoe. General laughter.)
CARDINAL UMLAUT: Sorry, I missed that. This boy is squirming overmuch.
CARDINAL WENCES: I fix.
(Cuffs boy, yells in Sponish)
CARDINAL M'TUMBE: We may see a wide-open conclave, with incense-filled back rooms and the like.
CARDINAL MAZEPPA: The deadlock will not last. Serious cash is changing hands. A little red bird offered me the Ark of the Covenant for my support.
CARDINAL WENCES: Ridiculous!
CARDINAL MAZEPPA: Why? I can deliver 20 votes on the strength of blackmail alone!
CARDINAL WENCES: Because I have the Ark of the Covenant! At least that's what that bastard Martini told me.
CARDINAL MAZEPPA: Ha ha! Played for a chump, you were! You know, I like this Martini's style. Maybe I will make a call to the IMF and see if he is acceptable to our global overlords.
CARDINAL UMLAUT: (Wiping his brow with a handkerchief) Ah, that was refreshing. You know what I could go for? Some consecrated wine.
CARDINAL M'TUMBE: (Pouring out a fresh round) Accepite, et bibite ex eo omnes.
ALL: Salute!
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