No politics at the Vatican

So this morning on the "News" some Cardinal was discussing how the Cardinals were all just in a state of prayer for 9 days until the College of Cardinals to elect the new Pope was convened. This dude stated that he wouldn't even be thinking about the next pope until after this quiet period, which he compared to the Saturday before Easter.

The Cardinals aren't thinking about Church politics. Yeah, right! If each of them is praying, they're praying to become the next Pope. Later on, another Bishop or somebody made some comment about how an African Pope was really a possibility. Yeah, right! He said if any one left the church over an African (black) pope, they really weren't part of the church anyway. Funnier and funnier.

The institution of the Pope and the Vatican is free from politics. Oh, man is that a rich one. Well, at least we're pretty certain they won't move the Pope back to Avignon. Or elect a female pope.
Its pretty certain that we won't see female priests in our lifetimes (or this century). So, they're not exactly FREE of politics at this or any other time. Also, the amount of infighting and deal-making going on right now in Rome is probably Huge. After all the Cardinals are electing a Pope, God isn't marking one for them.

Anyway, the papacy is anything but a pure, clean, Holy organization. I'm remembering that Pope Leo used to have parties where a Big Ass Cake was served, from which naked young boys jumped. Etc. Any claim to uninterrupted, Holy continuity is just ridiculous.

Yep, nothing much funnier than the Pope. This last guy was sort of all right, but extremely reactionary by any standards other than the Catholic Church's.