WAG - The Second makes Third!
Hey all you Vatican trivia lovers out there, there’s a new stat about to hit the books tomorrow!
On Sunday, Pope John Paul the Second will celebrate his 9,281st day in office. John Paul II (I am resisting the urge to make a Junior joke), started his tenure on October 16, 1978. After 25 years and 5 months, he will crack the top three of the all-time longest-lasting pope category.
J.P.2 still has about 7 more years to go if he is going to climb any higher.
Second on the all-time list is Pius IX, who severed 31 years, seven months, and 17 days from June 1846 and February 1878. With the current pope nearly reaching the age of 84, the pontiff’s birthday is on May 18, many expect the pope to step down before much longer. Of course, such rumors have been going around for a few years. Should the pope keep on trucking, and his health has improved since the rigorous series of 25th anniversary events conducted back in October, he will have to go an additional nine to twelve years to best the all-time unsurpassed champion.
At the top of the list since the position was formed is St. Peter, Simon Peter to his friends, who was the first pope. Tradition says he severed from A.D. 30 to A.D. 64 or 67 - a tenure of 34 or 37 years. Funny thing, when the Christians were experiencing a lot of persecution, it seems they didn’t worry as much about maintaining a proper paper trail. Go figure.
Though there is talk of imposing a mandatory age cap after John vacates the position, bishops – for example – must retire at age 75, it seems that the guy is going to keep on trucking. The pope has made over 102 foreign trips and has more trips planned in the spring. For as long as he is around, I seems he is going to be a papal the energizer bunny.
Note: State law mandates that at least one joke is made about the Pope and his transportation (i.e. the Pope-Mobile). This rule was a rider placed on last summer’s soybean protection bill. Anyway, not wanting to directly taint the site with such questionable remarks, I found a loophole that will allow me to link to a joke about the Pope and his chauffeur and still remain in compliance.
All joking aside, I do wish to extend our condolences go out to fans of Pope Leo XIII who have seen their hero drop to Number 4 on the list. He is the unspoken victim of the day.
So tomorrow be sure to celebrate Johnny’s triumph and resilience, but do remember to lift a glass in Leo’s honor as well.
Remember, fourth isn’t that bad – especially in a contest where it won’t be decades until another competitor gets the chance to challenge you.
'Salud_Popes'
