[ZenGum]

Recycling this from last time...

One of the more unlikely candidates for the Papacy is Cardinal Hans Grapje. Grapje was raised in a Catholic school and as a young man aspired to become a priest.

However, he was drafted into the Army during World War II and spent two years co-piloting B17s until his aircraft was shot down in 1943, resulting in the loss of his left arm. Captain Grapje spent the rest of the war as a military chaplain, giving spiritual aid to soldiers, both Allied and enemy.

After the war, he became a priest, serving as a missionary in Africa, piloting his own plane (in spite of his handicap) to villages across the continent.

In 1997, Father Grapje (now an archbishop) was serving in Zimbabwe when an explosion in a silver mine caused a massive cave-in, trapping scores of miners deep in the earth. Archbishop Grapje went down into the mine to administer comfort and last rites to those too severely injured to move. Another shaft collapsed and entombed him for three days; he suffered multiple injuries, including the loss of his right eye.

Some time after being rescued, he developed a severe condition from his extensive underground exposure to the high silver content in the mine's air. It is characterized by purplish skin blotches and is found in many life-long silver miners.

For his heroism and selfless service to others, the church elevated him to Cardinal.

Although Cardinal Grapje devoted his life to the service of God as a scholar, mentor, and holy man, church leaders felt that he could never ascend to the Papacy.

The Church just couldn't accept a one-eyed, one-armed, flying purple papal leader.

Thanks folks, I'll be here for eternity, unless I retire, try the flesh and blood of your saviour.