# Most suprising things about the Pope's funeral **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408 "2005-04-08T16:29:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/21 "2005-04-08T18:55:55Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > The whole cryogenic-preservation of his body ritual was tastefully done. > > Preserving his head in a life-support tank a la “Futurama” was a smart move. But having John Paul’s head then deliver his own eulogy was a bit too cutsey for my taste. But to be fair, it was a technological feat to make a jar large enough to support that big hat. I’ll admit I was a little confused when Cardnal Law said “The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark! Here’s to my love! O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die,” and drank some poison. Truely bizzare. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/22 "2005-04-08T18:58:11Z")
But why did all the cardinals ask President Bush to bring them back a shrubbery? Really, I’m so confused… ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/23 "2005-04-08T20:07:19Z")
I’m still waiting for the [conclave of papabili cats](http://www.metrodemontreal.com/pope-zazou.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/24 "2005-04-08T20:16:18Z")
I expected Charlotte Church to sing. And I expected her to sing Ave Maria. I didn’t expect her top to be see-through. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/25 "2005-04-08T20:21:46Z")
I have to admit that I never saw it coming when the autopsy revealed that Pope John Paul II was in fact really _a woman!_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/26 "2005-04-08T20:30:50Z")
I thought burying the pope in a Motohead t-shirt was just a tad sacreligious. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/27 "2005-04-08T20:35:18Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > You mean he hasn’t leaped up yet and yelled “GOTCHA YA!”? No, but I could have sworn I saw FUCKO OFF inscribed on the casket lid. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/28 "2005-04-08T20:38:55Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I thought burying the pope in a Motohead t-shirt was just a tad sacreligious. Wasn’t Motorhead. It was Dio’s Holy Diver tour shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/29 "2005-04-08T20:42:38Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > No, but I could have sworn I saw FUCKO OFF inscribed on the casket lid. Yes, but having it inscribed in Latin made it much more classy. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/30 "2005-04-08T20:43:37Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Yes, but having it inscribed in Latin made it much more classy. A pity the KISS casket got lost in transit. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/31 "2005-04-08T21:00:58Z")
I thought it was touching when W and the Mrs. got the crowd started doing the wave. Shows they truly care. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/32 "2005-04-08T21:07:19Z")
The pope-hat shaped trampoline castle was a nice addition to the festivities as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/33 "2005-04-08T21:08:43Z")
And who knew Prince Charles could break dance? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/34 "2005-04-08T21:23:28Z")
I was taken aback that they didn’t better hide his angel lust, but you gotta admit, the pontiff was swingin’ a serious censer. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/35 "2005-04-08T21:28:26Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Yes, but having it inscribed in Latin made it much more classy. EXI FUTUENDO. ---
**Author:** ![Heloise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@Heloise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heloise)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/36 "2005-04-08T21:32:22Z")
On a slightly more serious note, **Coldfire** pointed out Prince Charles shaking hands with the Zimbabwean anti-christ (my wording) Mugabe. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/37 "2005-04-08T21:41:17Z")
I know that some people bet on who the next Pope will be, but to have the tote board show up as a ticker onscreen? ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/38 "2005-04-08T22:05:37Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > I know that some people bet on who the next Pope will be, but to have the tote board show up as a ticker onscreen? That didn’t really shock me, but to see Cardinal Ratzinger show up at the betting window with such a big bundle of Euros was a bit off-putting. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/39 "2005-04-08T23:56:54Z")
I could sympathize with the crying and the shouting of “You’re the only one I ever loved.” But jumping into the open grave was too much. I expected better from Mel Gibson. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408/40 "2005-04-09T00:25:14Z")
My favourite part was when several of the faithful fainted because for a moment they thought the Holy Father had actually resurrected himself and was standing there among them, large as life. It had to be explained to them.: “No, that’s not the Pope. That’s Tony Blair. He just _thinks_ he’s the Pope.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-suprising-things-about-the-popes-funeral/298408.md?page=3)