Hello Bob,   
      
    LL>> The Pope does not draw a salary.  After all, what does a Pope   
    LL>> need a salary for?   
      
    BB>> Not the Pope per se, but the church is known for its wealth.  :)   
      
    LL>> As seen in all its splendor in the Sistine Chapel and other places.   
      
    LL>> Quite ironic that the troubles at the Vatican Bank wound up being   
    LL>> a contributing factor in forcing BXVI to resign.  Even more ironic   
    LL>> that the Vatican is now considering doing away with the Vatican   
    LL>> Bank.  But then, the new pope may be trying to set an example ...   
      
    BB>> Goes to feed the poor.   
      
    LL>> There is a soup kitchen at the Vatican???   
      
   BB>Of course!  Don't you listen to this guy - his mission is to help   
   BB>the poor.   
      
   Well, everybody has to eat.  Even the poor.   
      
   BB>I expect he'll sell off all that treasure to fund the kitchen.   
      
   But without a bank to put all that money in, wouldn't it be best   
   to simply give it all away?   
      
   BB>Least he can do...   
      
   The pope already paid Michelangelo for those frescoes on the   
   ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  And that is supposed to be God's   
   house.  So who really owns all those works of art?  Then again,   
   there are also lots of other treasures, such as statues.  Lots   
   of statues ...   
      
   --Lee   
      
   --- MesNews/1.06.00.00-gb   
    * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)