a real groaner

[Guest guest]

There were two Catholic boys, and Secola, whose lives paralleled each other in amazing ways. In the same year, was born in Ireland, was born in Italy. Faithfully, they attended parochial school from kindergarten through their senior year in high school. They took their vows to enter the priesthood early in college, and upon graduation, became priests. Their careers were amazing to the world, but it was generally acknowledged that was just a cut above in all respects. Their rise through the ranks of Bishop, Archbishop, and finally Cardinal, was meteoric, to say the least. The Catholic world knew that when the present Pope died, it would be either or who would become the next Pope. In time, the Pope did die, and the College of Cardinals went to work. In less time than anyone expected, smoke rose from the chimney, and the world waited to see who they had chosen. The world, Catholic, Protestant, and secular, was surprised to learn that had been elected Pope. was beyond surprise, he was devastated because, even with all 's giftedness, knew he was the better qualified. With gall that shocked the Cardinals, asked for a private session with them in which he candidly asked, "Why ?" After a long silence, one old Cardinal took pity on the bewildered and rose to reply, "We knew you were the better of the two, but we just could not bear the thought of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church being called Pope Secola.