Learning about the Vatican

CNN reports an Italian magazine has published what it says are portions of a secret diary keep by a Cardinal during the recent conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Two sharp bloggers, Ed Morrissey at Captain's Quarters and Betsy Newmark at Betsy's Page, post on the matter.

I'm glad to leave the serious analysis to them and just tell you a little story about understanding the Vatican.

It seems back many years ago a reporter was assigned to cover the Vatican. He wasn't a Catholic and didn't know anything about the Vatican.

A Cardinal friend agreed to help him. The Cardinal made special arrangements for the reporter to actually live in the Vatican for four weeks.

Two weeks into his stay, the reporter was granted a private audience with the Pope.

Pope and reporter got on so well the Pope invited him to stay for dinner; just the two of them.

Near the end of the dinner, the reporter asked the Pope if he thought living in the Vatican for four weeks was enough time to gain at least a basic understanding of how it really worked.

The Pope paused for a moment and then said, "Four weeks is good but four months would be better, and four years not enough."