The Pope and His Limo

[Guest guest]

Once upon arriving in New York the Pope was met by the standard Catholic entourage which included a first class limosine especially purchased for his visit. The Pope got into the Limo which was then followed by a procession of cardinals and priests in various other vehicles. Once inside the pope remarked to his driver what a luxurious and beautiful vehicle he was getting having the opportunity to drive. The driver politely replied that this particular limo was in fact the finest vehicle he had ever driven The Pope then quite unexpectantly remarked that it had been many years since he had last been allowed to drive and that he would very much like to try this fine vehicle out himself. He instructed his driver that at the next stop light they would switch places and he would drive. The driver thinking to himself that he was in no postion to question the desire of the pope obediently switched places with the pope at the next stop.

Well, the combination of age, lack of recent driving experience and a general lack of familiarity with the New York streets found the Pope almost immediately running several red lights and turning the wrong way down several one way streets. A young patrolman seeing what appeared to be merely an out of control limo signaled for the vehicle to pull over which of course the Pope, imbibed with respect for civil authority did. When the Pope rolled down the window and the Policeman saw who it was whom he had just detained, the blood drained from his face, he excused himself and retreated to his squad car. He immediately got his supervisor on the radio and asked "Hey, ah, boss, what's the proceedure if you pull someone over who's like ,ah, really important". His boss replied "Who'd ya pull ova the Mayor?".

"Ah, no sir this persons bigger than the Mayor".

"Then Who the heck is it, the Guvner,?".

"Ah...no".

"Well then who the heck ya got pulled ova there kid!?. The President!?" impatient irritation now seeping through the radio. To which the young patrolman replied "Look I don't know who heck it is but he's must be pretty important, he got the Pope drivin' him around"