This Just In: We're still waiting

I’m not Catholic. Maybe I just don’t understand the magnitude. I am Christian. But maybe that doesn’t give me the perspective.

I know that the election of the next Pope is a big deal. But, it seems the media is making stories when they are not there.

After Pope John Paul II passed away, Rachael asked me how they selected the next one. I knew that they held a conclave and that everything was secret and about the smoke signals. I should say that I only knew this thanks to Dan Brown’s book “Angels & Demons,” but still. Little did we know at that point that the news would go over the selection process about 10,000 times over the next few days until the mourning period was over.

Now the conclave is being held. This morning I was trying to remember the last time that the news was engulfed by the act of waiting. They just can’t let it be and let it happen.

“And now, we’re going to Susan; LIVE at the Vatican….”

“Thanks, Stew. Right now, as you can see, I am outside of St. Peter’s and so far nothing has happened. This morning, we thought something was going to happen… but nothing did. We expect something might happen a little later. Speculation is that something will happen soon. As you can see there are hundreds of people waiting for something. So far nothing, but as soon as something happens, we'll be here. Back to you Stew.”

“Thanks Susan – we’ll check back with you in 3 minutes...”

The media also seems bothered that everything is so secret as well. Why the secrecy? If it takes longer than 3 days, then they must be debating and not agreeing and fighting… PLEASE GIVE US A STORY!!!!

Leading into the conclave, we’ve also had Pope “frontrunners.” Really? “Frontrunners?” It makes it sound like they are trying to turn it into the petty, childish presidential election.

Over the past couple days I have heard about smoke signals (black = no Pope; white = Pope) and how the smoke looks white at first and then turns black. Oh the horror. Smoke doesn’t behave exactly as you expect? How can they not get that right. Don't they know we're out here WAITING?!? We can't take 3 seconds of false information!!!

I think it is more that I am sick of the media talking about it. It is a special, sacred event, but it is not the news story that they are trying to make it out to be. It’s like they are trying to snazz it up; make it exciting; maybe add some more drama… kinda like “Pimp my News.” But it’s not. It’s a boring process that may take days, and you will never know more than the “black smoke”/ “white smoke” thing. Sorry news people. Your time would be better served covering the Michael Jackson trial… I haven’t heard anything about THAT lately.