media frenzy.

i've come to the conclusion, recently, that the media frenzy surrounding the recent developments in the roman catholic church has two basic causes:

one, people just get a kick out of saying "pope." for example, see goats.com "Congratulations, Pope!". or how a friend of mine insisted, "The new pope will be made entirely of poponium." it ought to be a drinking game. every time the newscaster says "pope", take a drink. if s/he says "popemobile" just go ahead and pass out ;)

two, the funeral and election process are full of these elaborate medieval-esque trappings which we don't understand, but are intrigued by because they're so elaborate. the pomp and colour and solemnity of the whole process is fascinating because it's so alien. they keep saying there are 1 billion catholics in the world, but that means there's another 5 billion who have very little idea of what's going on. i don't think i've spent more time at the catholic encyclopedia than i have recently. although that's possibly not the best source, because the text online is (c) 1917, and therefore pre-WWII, pre-VaticanII, and it ignores all protestantism except for the C of E, the Lutherans, and the Presbyterians. but since i don't have a catholic theologian handy, it's the best i can do.

seeing as the newly-selected benedict XVI is 78, maybe there won't be such a frenzy next time around because we'll all still remember it.