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Subject: Murphy And Secola
There were two Catholic boys, Timothy Murphy and Antonio
Secola, whose lives paralleled each other in amazing ways.
In the same year Timothy was born in Ireland, Antonio 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 had come to amaze the world, but it was
generally acknowledged that Antonio was just a cut above Timothy
in all respects.
Their rise through the ranks of bishop, archbishop, and finally
cardinal was meteoric to say the least, and the Catholic world
knew that when the present Pope died, it would be either
Timothy or Antonio 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 Timothy Murphy
had been elected Pope.
Antonio was beyond surprise, he was devastated, because, even
with all Timothy's giftedness, Antonio knew he was the better qualified.
With gall that shocked the cardinals, Antonio asked for a private
session with them, in which he candidly asked, "Why Timothy?"
After a long silence, one old Cardinal took pity on the bewildered
Antonio and rose to reply.
"We knew you were the better of the two," he said, "but we just
could not bear the thought of the leader of the Roman Catholic
Church being called .......
"Pope Secola!"
There were two Catholic boys, Timothy Murphy and Antonio
Secola, whose lives paralleled each other in amazing ways.
In the same year Timothy was born in Ireland, Antonio 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 had come to amaze the world, but it was
generally acknowledged that Antonio was just a cut above Timothy
in all respects.
Their rise through the ranks of bishop, archbishop, and finally
cardinal was meteoric to say the least, and the Catholic world
knew that when the present Pope died, it would be either
Timothy or Antonio 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 Timothy Murphy
had been elected Pope.
Antonio was beyond surprise, he was devastated, because, even
with all Timothy's giftedness, Antonio knew he was the better qualified.
With gall that shocked the cardinals, Antonio asked for a private
session with them, in which he candidly asked, "Why Timothy?"
After a long silence, one old Cardinal took pity on the bewildered
Antonio and rose to reply.
"We knew you were the better of the two," he said, "but we just
could not bear the thought of the leader of the Roman Catholic
Church being called .......
"Pope Secola!"
:?
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