I find myself surprised by my interest in the Pope's departure. The spiritual, theological and political aspects of it have captured me much less than the rituals surrounding it, the way things are done, and the significance attached to procedure and protocol. I take delight in the antiquated vocabulary that has been dusted off and finds its way into the media. Strange, to see these words pop up on my computer screen.

No matter how lofty and spiritual, there are a lot of mundane-seeming details associated with the pope's passing. Bags need to be packed, belongings sorted through, rooms cleaned out in a matter of days and sealed for the successor and his entourage. House-keeping, so to speak, and little is left to chance or delegated to the arbitrary decisions of a cleaning-crew.  11:47:37 AM