As regular readers know I enjoy the opportunity to have a little fun at the expense of religion. So here are a few of the gems that caught my eye today as the Roman church went into sede vacante.

The first are a couple of great puns from @janewells, a reporter for CNBC:

Media loves to pontificate on what’s next for papacy. (stolen from @colemanrod)

A Popeless situation.

The second is not so much humor but entertainment. The Religion New Service brings us word that there is a Spotify playlist for choosing a new pope. The article says:

The music site Spotify called on [Timothy] O’Malley and other experts at University of Notre Dame to select two dozen chants, hymns, suites, orchestral music and more at Conclave: Institute for Church Life, University of Notre Dame

“People who know sacred music will find this to be a greatest hits list,” O’Malley says. But among the classics are some surprises.

Charles Wesley wasn’t Catholic, for example, but his hymn Love Divine, all loves excelling is on the list “because the theme is what we were going for — it’s about love and unity and prayer.” And Aaron Copeland’s Appalachian Spring is included for its mood of rebirth and renewal, he says.

And finally, a great play on the season (no not Lent) in another gift from the Religion News Service — March Madness Vatican Edition. Yes, the top candidates for pope from every region battle it out in an elimination tournament style bracket. And who can’t appreciate the first round as the “Sweet Sistine” But why did Tagle and Turkson have to end up facing each other in the first round! Couldn’t that have waited for the semi’s?

OK, enough frivolity for today. Get back as you were with your Reformed dour demeanor…

UPDATE: Thanks to Mark Silk (and Religious News Service) we have a job posting.