# The Pope has a wicked sense of humor **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 24, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402 "2015-09-24T14:49:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/1 "2015-09-24T14:49:15Z")
I was listening to the Pope speak in the US congress this morning. Pope: “It is important that we protect life at all stages of development…” - Republicans go wild, sure he is calling for a ban on abortions \* Pope: “… which is why I’m calling for the global abolishment of the death sentence”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/2 "2015-09-24T16:50:40Z")
Did he really say that? It sounds too good to be true. But if he did, I think that qualifies as a Moment of Awesome. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/3 "2015-09-24T16:56:21Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Did he really say that? It sounds too good to be true. > > But if he did, I think that qualifies as a Moment of Awesome. > > IMHO. Indeed he did. I looked up a transcript, and the exact words were: > [@](#): > > The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development. This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. He went on, as well: > [@](#): > > Recently my brother bishops here in the United States renewed their call for the abolition of the death penalty. Not only do I support them, but I also offer encouragement to all those who are convinced that a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/4 "2015-09-24T16:57:18Z")
“The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development. This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty.” Perfect comedic timing, one could almost say it was Divinely Inspired. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/5 "2015-09-24T17:07:55Z")
Yes it was along the lines of “…protect life at ALL stages. But we’ve already done the unborn bit a thousand times, I don’t NEED to say it again, do I? There’s another side to that…” However the utterly tepid, timid, “OMG don’t let a camera catch me applauding that” reaction at that bit was sad. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/6 "2015-09-24T17:20:24Z")
The rarely invoked Papal gotcha. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/7 "2015-09-24T17:26:25Z")
I recall when the Pope visited Cuba he proclaimed the need for people “to serve people, not ideology.” Which is a . . . distinctly **odd** pronouncement from a Catholic prelate; I recall one from the Reformation period saying that it would be better for all mankind to be exterminated than for one soul “I will not say, be damned, but commit a single venial sin.” Pol Pot was never that hardass. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/8 "2015-09-24T17:27:45Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The rarely invoked Papal gotcha. Which I believe was last invoked when Julius II said of his predecessor Alexander VI that he would always be remembered… As an embarrassment to the papacy. History does not document whether this quip was followed by a rimshot, but many believe it was. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/9 "2015-09-24T17:34:04Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Which I believe was last invoked when Julius II said of his predecessor Alexander VI that he would always be remembered… As an embarrassment to the papacy. [Like he should talk . . .](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Excluded_from_Heaven) ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/10 "2015-09-26T05:04:38Z")
> [@zwede](#): > > I was listening to the Pope speak in the US congress this morning. > > Pope: “It is important that we protect life at all stages of development…” > > - Republicans go wild, sure he is calling for a ban on abortions \* > Pope: “… which is why I’m calling for the global abolishment of the death sentence”. I thought you were going to reference when he mentioned Abraham Lincoln, “the guardian of liberty”. That was a real knee-slapper. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/11 "2015-09-26T05:17:41Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Did he really say that? It sounds too good to be true. > > But if he did, I think that qualifies as a Moment of Awesome. > > IMHO. [Oh yeah, that’s what he said & that’s what they did](http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/sep/24/pope-francis-congress-abolish-death-penalty-video). (Video at the link) ---
**Author:** ![blue\_infinity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_infinity/32/2817_2.png) [@blue\_infinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_infinity)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/12 "2015-09-26T06:34:05Z")
Wonderful trolling from the pope. I like him better than that Sith pope. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/13 "2015-09-26T07:15:38Z")
Anyone who claims god is real and he’s the most holy follower would need a sense of humor. I thought it was really funny when he said that poor children should be fed in Cuba. He got cheers for saying this. He forgot the holy checkbook and the plans for a supermarket. Now THAT was funny. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/14 "2015-09-26T08:31:38Z")
I totally thought this topic would be about [his upcoming album.](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pope-francis-to-release-pop-rock-album-wake-up-20150925) ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/15 "2015-09-27T23:37:36Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > However the utterly tepid, timid, “OMG don’t let a camera catch me applauding that” reaction at that bit was sad. I’m not sure what you’re referring to. I watched the video that **Snowboarder Bo** linked to and there was strong applause after the Pope called for abolition of the death penalty. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/16 "2015-09-27T23:44:07Z")
I watched live, **ITR champion**. The applause after he advocated abolition of the death penaly, save for a loud whoop from Rep. Velazquez, was noticeably weaker compared to that given to his “at all stages” set-up line. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/17 "2015-09-27T23:58:09Z")
Best. Pope. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/18 "2015-10-01T18:45:33Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Yes it was along the lines of “…protect life at ALL stages. But we’ve already done the unborn bit a thousand times, I don’t NEED to say it again, do I? There’s another side to that…” > > However the utterly tepid, timid, “OMG don’t let a camera catch me applauding that” reaction at that bit was sad. That’s funny… It made **me** chuckle. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/19 "2015-10-12T15:46:17Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Like he should talk . . .](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Excluded_from_Heaven) I like to imagine that as the 16th century version of a particularly edgy SNL sketch, complete with studio laughs. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402/20 "2015-10-12T16:16:07Z")
> [@zwede](#): > > I was listening to the Pope speak in the US congress this morning. > > Pope: “It is important that we protect life at all stages of development…” > > - Republicans go wild, sure he is calling for a ban on abortions \* > Pope: “… which is why I’m calling for the global abolishment of the death sentence”. Ohhhh… yes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-has-a-wicked-sense-of-humor/732402.md?page=2)