Pope John Paul II has died.

Not slamming the Pope, Munch, just the media feeding frenzy.

I mean no disrespect to all who respect and look up to him.

My appologies.

Per NPR this morning, a specific Cardinal will call out three times to the Pope to make sure he doesn’t respond. Then they tap him on the head with a silver hammer (hence the previous musical malady). When he does not respond then they close the doors near St. Peter’s and declare 9 days of mourning. All Cardinals who are under 80(?) years old then congregate in the Vatican to elect a new pope. This congregation meets no sooner than 15 days after the pope has died but no later than 20 days.

(That’s the gist, I may have gotten some parts wrong)

What are the odds that the Pontiff is playing an April Fools prank on the Cardinals?

I guess I can see that, I was just curious. I’m not catholic, but I respect him as a leader of a faith. I understand the circus making you crazy, but at least CNN isn’t like Slashdot, where the mods are posting every joke news item they can find.

I was thinking the Pope’s last act might have been the biggest April Fool’s prank in recorded history.

I must say that however angry much of the world would be, it would make him a historical pope.

Well, right now on the front page of CNN they’ve got: "> BREAKING NEWS AP: The Vatican denies reports in Italian media that Pope John Paul II has died. "

20 years ago, probably pretty good.

This one actually appears to have had a pretty good sense of humor.

How big is the hammer? A nine-pounder may indeed be a way to verify if someone is dead.

As of this time stamp, cyberpresse.com is reporting:

<cue hundreds of Catholic MP fans snickering and saying “I’m not dead yet!”>

According to ABC (that’s the U.S. ABC) their sources say the Pope is still alive, as well as the official Vatican denials.

ABC reporter is saying the Vatican has been unusually forthcoming with reports on the Pope’s condition.

Neither did Mrs. Schiavo. So we know the Vatican doesn’t count that as dead.

Coronor: Bring out your dead!
Cardinal: Here’s one.
Coronor: Ninepence.
Pope: I’m not dead!
Coronor: What?
Cardinal: Nothing. Here’s your ninepence.
Pope: I’m not dead!
Coronor:'Ere. He says he’s not dead!
Cardinal: Yes, he is.
Pope: I’m not!
Coronor: He isn’t?
Cardinal: Well, he will be soon. He’s very ill.
Pope: I’m getting better!
Cardinal: No, you’re not. You’ll be stone dead in a moment.
Coronor: Oh, I can’t take him like that. It’s against regulations.
Pope: I don’t want to go on the cart!
Cardinal: Oh, don’t be such a baby.
Coronor: I can’t take him.
Pope: I feel fine!
Cardinal: Well, do us a favour.
Coronor: I can’t.
Cardinal: Well, can you hang around a couple of minutes? He won’t be long.
Coronor: No, I’ve got to go to the Sumatrans. They’ve lost nine thousand today.
Cardinal: Well, when’s your next round?
Coronor: Thursday.
Pope: I think I’ll go for a walk.
Cardinal: You’re not fooling anyone, you know. Look. Isn’t there something you can do?
Pope: I feel happy. I feel happy… I feel…

[Coronor looks around furtively]

WHACK

Cardinal: Ah, thanks very much.
Coronor: Not at all. See you on Thursday.

With no doubt a silver hammer.

:smack:

I take back my appology. :stuck_out_tongue:

And all of you are so going to hell! On the HOV lane no less. :smiley:

Not dead.

For years, people have referred to him as J2P2.

I’m surprised JP II: Ecclesiastic Boogaloo isn’t more common.

I keep thinking of the line from family guy, when they announce the Pope’s appearance:
“Lets get ready to huuummble!”