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Help wanted: New pope, experience not required

Pope Benedict XVI gestures as he appears at the window of his apartments to celebrate his last Sunday prayers before stepping down on Feb. 24, 2013 at St Peter's Square in Vatican city.

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A papal conclave will assemble in the Vatican in a couple of weeks. And while many believe the successor to the current Pope should be a cardinal with experience in church affairs, there's at least one man out there who feels he's got what takes to lead the Catholic Church.

McSweeney's contributor John Ortved says he thinks he's up to the challenge.

While I have never studied Catholicism per se, I have several credits in World Religions and, as the intern supervisor at the prominent, Oakland law firm of Russ, Davies & Chalmers will confirm, I am a quick study. Additionally, I have noted your organization’s expanding client base in South America. This is an area in which I am well versed, after spending an entire semester in Buenos Aires, where I became intimately acquainted with the people, their food and their culture.

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About the author

John Ortved is a contributor to McSweeney's, The New Yorker and Vanity Fair.
rrrrrr's picture
rrrrrr - Feb 27, 2013

I just created an account to let the Marketplace powers-that-be know that this story, all by itself, has destroyed my Marketplace loyalty. If the current events regarding the papacy have any "business angle," it definitely is not explored in a story that disrespectfully mocks both job seekers and the Roman Catholic Church.

Mimsterzoo's picture
Mimsterzoo - Feb 26, 2013

Exceptionally witty piece--thank you for the laugh-out-loud perspective. It's refreshing!

Jem's picture
Jem - Feb 27, 2013

Witty, really?!?! It was like and SNL skit that got a lite chuckle and then went on for another grueling 5 minutes. I literally signed up for an account to comment on how annoyed I was by it.

Bridgman's picture
Bridgman - Feb 26, 2013

Not bad, but at least one person beat you to it awhile ago, though he took a different tack. http://completeandtotalloser.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-losers-letter-from...