The DC subway system ran an ad featuring a bobblehead version of Pope Benedict. The ad was an effort to get fans of his Holiness to take the train when Benedict comes to town next week. (He’s not coming to Boston. “It’s not a big college town.”) The ad is fun. As the plastic Pontiff rides the train, a man seated next to him chants IN LATIN, “Thank heaven for Metro.”
Later, the narrator says, “Avoid the unholy traffic and take Metro.”
Here is the amazing quote from the story:
Apparently the Vatican views selling bad bobbleheads in the same light as Martin Luther once viewed selling papal indulgences.
Good news for the Metro is that this GUARANTEES the video gets more views than it would have otherwise.
BTW, the misdressing?
The bobblehead in the Metro video wears a red skull cap, known as a zucchetto, and a red cape. “Popes don’t wear red skull caps,” and they don’t wear red capes, only white ones, Gibbs said.
Well, EXCUUUUUUUUUUSE ME. Who died and made you Pope? Oh, wait, never mind that last one.
Go here if you want to order your own incorrect version of Pope Bobblehead the First.
(Insert contractually obligated mention of my attempt to get my copy of Lives of the Popes back from Churbuck here.)
Collateral Damage 
It really wasn’t the Vatican which – properly speaking denotes Rome – that made the fuss. It was the local diocese…
And as a Catholic, I am a wee bit befuddled by the diocese – I found it amusing and posted it on my own blog – The Black Cordelias – and we are a snarky feisty bunch of converts and reverts to the Catholic Faith.
Oh well.
Oh, so now I’m supposed to accurate? WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT FROM ME!!! As a former Catholic — not knocking it, just wasn’t the way for me — I gotta say, if this is what befuddles you about the diocese you have a very well run diocese. 😉
BIt of a false dichotomy there – either everything is perfect otherwise or…
Either way, contrary to popular imagination there is no Vatican war room in the depths of Saint Peter where they are monitoring all radio and TV transmissions the world over.
Come back for a visit some time.
What, no Vatican war room? Darn!
The real reason for the red skullcap is simply that the white one doesn’t show up against the Pope’s white hair. The real Pope also does sometimes wear a small red cape, or mozzetta, over his white cassock, so that’s not so inaccurate.
Silly ad, silly bobble, silly fun.