Daffy Duck

It appears that your strength is writing fiction, as you could claim that any resemblance to the truth is unintended and purely coincidental

Lino James,

Thanks for the link to the, I think too celebratory, article by Weigel.

The German journalist Andreas Englisch, known in Germany for his books (in German) about the last two Popes, said “I hope they will choose a reformer, somebody who is less conservative - for instance Cardinal George Pell from Australia” (http://www.wa.de/nachrichten/nrw/vatikan-kenner-andreas-englisch-werl-ruecktritt-papst-bendikt-xvi-interview-2746484.html). Well, most unlikely, to say the least, but still.

Living now in Germany, I have been reading these comments, written by Australians, “emotionally critical” (to use a mild phrase) of their (theoretical) candidate for papacy. They in some sense are not unlike similar opinions expressed by many Germans about their candidate (Ratzinger) in 2005. Well, if being hated by compatriots were a decisive factor to being elected Pope, Pell’s chances would be as good as were those of Ratzinger (who became Benedict XVI) in 2005.

It's about time His Eminence and his colleagues got a real job, or at least, the multi-billion dollar business known as the "Catholic Church" paid taxes on profits earned.

I see that the new poop has chosen the name Francis which is of course quite apt because Francis was the principal character in a 50's TV show, namely Francis the Talking Donkey.

I reckon the new Pope named himself after Frank Sinatra..."It can only be my way" !!

When I heard " Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Papam: Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Georgium" my jaws dropped until I realised Cardinal Pell was not the only Cardinal whose Latin name was Georgius.