mission impossible: conclave

yeah, it sounds like a movie. or the next installment in the mortal kombat series.

in the not to distant future, a small group of people gather to decide the fate of the world. mankind has fallen to corruption, sin and religious unrest. it's up to these 115 men to find a new hero to help reestablish the moral fiber that holds this dying world together...

ok, so maybe that's a little over the top, but since this has only happened one other time in my life, that i don't even remember, this is actually pretty cool.

listening to the news this morning, it was explained that these 115 men are locked up in a Best Western forever how long it takes to decide on a new Pope. in the past, as now, the men reside to the area in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel and stay there until the pope is elected into office, or something like that. the struggle is to now elect a pope that understands the world, but the quarrel is over finding someone that not only can lead the catholic church but still understand other world religions and communicate successfully with each. rumors, according to broadcasts i've listened to, indicate that the next pope could be african or south american. following up after Paul II can't be an easy thing to do.

so once they're locked up away from the world, free of influence from the outside world, the decide. they are blocked from all types of media from the world; tv, radio, printed and the vatican has even been outfitted with anti-bugging and surveillance devices (helping the lord work in mysterious ways). prior to the makeover of Best Western Rome that they reside in, the area was, till this day, a medievil sort of outfit without running water or electricity so as to allow those to focus on the task at hand.

i guess the world is hoping that a new pope will be elected within the next 7 days, but we may have to wait. the record was 3 years at one time. imagine the state of anxiety this created.


and they're off! the dude in the red robe takes the lead as the guy in the big white hat gains. santa clause and 'rusty nail' trail in 3rd...