The Pope and the Chief Rabbi

Every time a new Pope is elected, there's a whole lot of rituals and
ceremonies that have to be gone through, in accordance with
tradition. Well there's one tradition that very few people
know about.

Shortly after the new Pope is enthroned, the Chief Rabbi seeks
an audience. He is shown into the Pope's presence, whereupon
he presents him with a silver tray bearing a velvet cushion.
On top of the cushion is an ancient, shriveled parchment
envelope.

The Pope symbolically stretches out his arm in a gesture of
rejection.

The Chief Rabbi then retires, taking the envelope with him and
does not return until the next Pope is elected. John Paul II
was intrigued by this ritual, whose origins were unknown to
him. He instructed the best scholars of the Vatican to
research it, but they came up with nothing. When the time came
and the Chief Rabbi was shown into his presence, he faithfully
enacted the ritual rejection but, as the Chief Rabbi turned to
leave, he called him back.

"My brother," the Holy Father whispered, "I must confess that we
Catholics are ignorant of the meaning of this ritual enacted for
centuries between us and you, the representative of the Jewish
people. I have to ask you, what is it all about?"

The Chief Rabbi shrugs and replies: "But we have no more idea
than you do. The origin of the ceremony is lost in the
traditions of ancient history."

The Pope said: "Let us retire to my private chambers and enjoy a
glass of wine together, then, with your agreement, we shall open
the envelope and discover at last the secret."

The Chief Rabbi agreed.

Fortified in their resolve by the wine, they gingerly pried open
the curling parchment envelope and with trembling fingers, the
Chief Rabbi reached inside and extracted a folded sheet of
similarly ancient paper. As the Pope peered over his shoulder,
he slowly opened it.

They both gasped with shock.

It was the check for the Last Supper.