During my last trip to Rome in 1986, Allen and I visited the Vatican and went to one of those massive Wednesday audiences for the pope. I didn’t know what to expect, but we were pleasantly surprised to see a French circus perform for the pope right there on the stage of the theatre where the audience was held. (Later on, the pope moved through the crowd to bless everyone and the nuns fought their way to the front of the line like teenyboppers at a Shaun Cassidy concert.) Anyway, apparently the tradition of having entertainment for the pope continues.

I wonder who’s idea it was at the Vatican to get a bunch of well-muscled topless guys to perform gymnastics?