USA Today: "Pope praises 13th-century hermit who quit papacy

[Beantown Bruins]

The pope should sell the Vatican city and all of the paintings it owns and help sell world poverty.

Sarah Silverman called. She wants her bit back.

[Cybach]

The pope should sell the Vatican city and all of the paintings it owns and help sell world poverty.

That's the only way he will gain my respect.

A few logistical issues:

1) I don't think you can: "sell" a whole nation. The new property, under which jurisdiction would it fall and who would have what zoning laws? Italy is so fractured in it's politics it would take ages to annex the territory back in, in a clean legal way. That is if Italian law even provides for the legal annexation of a former nation.

2) The worth of the Vatican museum, library and property is not measurable by human wealth. So who could buy it? No one. The Vatican library is the most extensive collection of ancient texts since the demise of the library of Alexandria and the library of Baghdad. No other library in the world has such an exhaustive collection of authentic writings from the dark ages, medieval times or renaissance.

The actual Vatican museum has the richest collection in Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, etc.. works. Hell it even has a whole chapel done by Michelangelo. The small statue of David is considered almost priceless, can you imagine how much a whole chapel must be worth? I mean just look at how insane the museum looks compared to other ones such as smithsonian or metropolitan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vatic ... ircase.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vatic ... f_Maps.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Musei ... _Nuovo.JPG


3) The Vatican is considered a world heritage site. I am not even sure it's sale would be considered legal or would be legally recognized by anyone.

4) It's the central pillar of the Catholic faith. Would you tell Muslims to sell Mecca, with all the marble and gold that is in that holy place? If not, why expect Catholics to sell the Vatican?

[Allrule]

Am I the only one who thinks the Pope kinda looks like Palpatine from the Star Wars prequel trilogy?

[Geniasis]

Am I the only one who thinks the Pope kinda looks like Palpatine from the Star Wars prequel trilogy?

Not in the slightest.

[Risottia]

The pope should sell the Vatican city and all of the paintings it owns and help sell world poverty.

That's the only way he will gain my respect.

A few logistical issues:

1) I don't think you can: "sell" a whole nation. The new property, under which jurisdiction would it fall and who would have what zoning laws? Italy is so fractured in it's politics it would take ages to annex the territory back in, in a clean legal way. That is if Italian law even provides for the legal annexation of a former nation.

Well, historically Italy has annexed some nations. The Granduchy of Tuscany, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and guess what, the Papacy.
I agree that there's no political will to make a move that might anger the Catholics. Just wait till I become Emperor uhh... President of the Ministers' Council I mean.

The worth of the Vatican museum, library and property is not measurable by human wealth. ... The Vatican is considered a world heritage site.

True.
Solution: Italy grabs it, kicks the Pope out (maybe to Avignon, just to keep it traditional...) and takes the entrance fee without giving any part to the Church.

[Allrule]

Am I the only one who thinks the Pope kinda looks like Palpatine from the Star Wars prequel trilogy?

Not in the slightest.

I knew it! The Pope is the Sith Lord we've been looking for! Now, if only we could convince officials of the Vatican...

[Risottia]

Am I the only one who thinks the Pope kinda looks like Palpatine from the Star Wars prequel trilogy?

Not in the slightest.

There's nothing but a black background and ads.

[Geniasis]

Am I the only one who thinks the Pope kinda looks like Palpatine from the Star Wars prequel trilogy?

Not in the slightest.

There's nothing but a black background and ads.

I'm not sure why it isn't working on your end but, it's a picture of the Pope with Sith robes shopped on, set to the Imperial March.

[Cybach]

The pope should sell the Vatican city and all of the paintings it owns and help sell world poverty.

That's the only way he will gain my respect.

A few logistical issues:

1) I don't think you can: "sell" a whole nation. The new property, under which jurisdiction would it fall and who would have what zoning laws? Italy is so fractured in it's politics it would take ages to annex the territory back in, in a clean legal way. That is if Italian law even provides for the legal annexation of a former nation.

Well, historically Italy has annexed some nations. The Granduchy of Tuscany, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and guess what, the Papacy.
I agree that there's no political will to make a move that might anger the Catholics. Just wait till I become Emperor uhh... President of the Ministers' Council I mean.

The worth of the Vatican museum, library and property is not measurable by human wealth. ... The Vatican is considered a world heritage site.

True.
Solution: Italy grabs it, kicks the Pope out (maybe to Avignon, just to keep it traditional...) and takes the entrance fee without giving any part to the Church.

Historically yes. But the recent Italian State was only brought to life post-WW2. So does their modern Italian constitution allow for it? I doubt that. I could be wrong, but I am basing this more off of other European modern constitutions.


As for the other. If Italy marches in and steals all of the Vatican possessions, does that not defeat the original purpose expressed in selling them? Likewise you really think you could manage this without a huge diplomatic disaster? Or hell, could you even mobilize the army or police to support such an action? I can imagine more than one policeman or soldier might simply walk over and defend the Vatican.



But my original point. Would Sarah Silverman mind if the Jews sold the Wailing Wall or the Muslims would sell Mecca? Since that is what she is effectively demanding from the Catholics. The Vatican is built upon the grave of St. Peter who built up the Catholic faith under the aegis and command of Christ.