Let's come down to Earth [literally] though, Graham. OK ... what's happening on the "Red" Planet IS, indeed, *rivetting (again, in the truest sense of the *word!) But we mere mortals do, after all, live on our own planet ... and, judging by the sheer masses [s'cuse pun] seen "braving the elements"outside St Peter's Basilica the other evening, the election of the first non-European Roman Catholic Primate in nearly 11/2 millennia of recorded time, surely deserves the respect and jubilation it undoubtely attracted from Catholic communities worldwide - aside from the countless millions representing the very nation to which most of OUR British members' **loved ones originate - namely, the Philippines!
Now, I'm NOT a Catholic.Nevertheless, I feel last Wednesday's Papal Election was undoubtedly a HUGELY significant event in the lives of **those people and ALL who share their faith.
So... I am one hundred percent certain they're highly UNLIKELY to regard the occasion as consisting of mere "mumbo. jumbo".